An unusual case of chronic nonhealing periorbital ulceration due to a new species of Corynebacterium sp. strain UCL557

• Main Authors: Bipasa Chakraborty, Kalidas Rit, Rupali Dey, Satadal Das, Prasanta Kumar Maiti
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2016-01-01
• Series: Medical Journal of Dr. D.Y. Patil University
• Subjects: Corynebacterium UCL557; diphtheroids; multidrug-resistant; periorbital ulceration
• Online Access: http://www.mjdrdypu.org/article.asp?issn=0975-2870;year=2016;volume=9;issue=3;spage=377;epage=381;aulast=Chakraborty

Nondiphtherial Corynebacterium (diphtheroids) has been related to blood and wound infections but are an uncommon cause for soft tissue infection. We report a case of periorbital soft tissue infection with ulceration caused by multidrug-resistant Corynebacterium spp. in a 9-year-old girl who is apparently immunocompetant. Computed tomography scan showed soft tissue involvement of right periorbital region with no bony destructions or focal calcifications. Vision remained unaffected. Patient was treated by debridement and skin grafting, but condition did not improve. Pus collected from the periorbital ulcerated area was cultured in blood agar and Corynebacterium spp. was isolated from the pure culture, which was identified as a new species Corynebacterium sp. strain UCL557 using 16S rDNA- based molecular technique based on nucleotide homology and phylogenetic analysis. Antibiogram showed multiresistance pattern with sensitivity to ceftriaxone-sulbactum vancomycin and linezolid. After initiation of treatment with vancomycin infusion and oral linezolid, the patient responded well and lesion started to heal. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first ever case report of periorbital ulceration by new species of Corynebacterium sp. strain UCL557.