Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Corynebacterium glucuronolyticum in genitourinary tract samples

Abstract

Introduction

Corynebacterium glucuronolyticum (C. glucuronolyticum) is a species recently recognized as a potential pathogen of the male genitourinary tract. The objective is to determine the prevalence of C. glucuronolyticum in genitourinary tract samples as well as their antimicrobial susceptibility profile.

Methods

A prospective study was conducted from 1st of November 2021 to the 30th of November 2022, for all genitourinary tract samples collected from male patients with suspicion of balanitis, prostatitis and urethritis. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed in all C. glucuronolyticum isolates.

Results

A total of 73 C. glucuronolyticum isolates from 693 clinical specimens were obtained. This represents an overall C. glucuronolyticum prevalence of 10.5%. All strains were susceptible to vancomycin, linezolid and rifampicin, whereas 94%, 68% and 65% were resistant to clindamycin, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin, respectively.

Conclusion

Clinical microbiology laboratories should perform antimicrobial susceptibility testing against C. glucuronolyticum due to the significant rate of resistance to ciprofloxacin and tetracycline.

Resumen

Introducción

Corynebacterium glucuronolyticum(C.glucuronolyticum) es un microorganismo reconocido recientemente como patógeno del tracto genitourinario. El objetivo es determinar la prevalencia de C. glucuronolyticum en muestras del tracto genitourinario, así como su perfil de sensibilidad antimicrobiana.

Métodos

Se realizó un estudio prospectivo del 1 de noviembre del 2021 al 30 de noviembre del 2022 de todas las muestras recogidas de pacientes con sospecha de balanitis, prostatitis y uretritis. Se realizaron pruebas de sensibilidad a todos los aislados de C. glucuronolyticum.

Resultados

Se obtuvieron un total de 73 aislados de C. glucuronolyticum de 693 muestras. Esto representa una prevalencia del 10,5%. Todas las cepas fueron sensibles a vancomicina, linezolid y rifampicina, mientras que el 94, el 68 y el 65% fueron resistentes a clindamicina, tetraciclina y ciprofloxacino, respectivamente.

Conclusión

Los laboratorios de microbiología deberían realizar pruebas de sensibilidad a C. glucuronolyticum debido a la importante tasa de resistencia a ciprofloxacino y a la tetraciclina.