Which organism is a non-motile, gram-positive coryneform bacterium commonly associated with catheter-related bacteremia?

Which organism is a non-motile, gram-positive coryneform bacterium commonly associated with catheter-related bacteremia?

• A. Corynebacterium jeikeium
• B. Corynebacterium diphtheriae
• C. Listeria monocytogenes
• D. Staphylococcus aureus

Answer: (A)

This item tests recognizing a non-motile, gram-positive coryneform bacterium known for catheter-related bloodstream infections. Corynebacterium jeikeium fits this profile best because it is a skin-dwelling coryneform organism that readily forms biofilms on indwelling devices, leading to bacteremia in patients with catheters or weakened immunity. It’s a classic nosocomial pathogen in this setting and is often encountered in hospital-acquired infections involving intravascular devices. Corynebacterium diphtheriae is mainly a cause of diphtheria with respiratory symptoms, not typically catheter-related bacteremia. Listeria monocytogenes is a gram-positive rod that is motile under some conditions and is associated with menu- or neonatal infections rather than device-associated bacteremia. Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of catheter infections but is not coryneform (it’s cocci), so it doesn’t match the described organism.

This item tests recognizing a non-motile, gram-positive coryneform bacterium known for catheter-related bloodstream infections. Corynebacterium jeikeium fits this profile best because it is a skin-dwelling coryneform organism that readily forms biofilms on indwelling devices, leading to bacteremia in patients with catheters or weakened immunity. It’s a classic nosocomial pathogen in this setting and is often encountered in hospital-acquired infections involving intravascular devices.

Corynebacterium diphtheriae is mainly a cause of diphtheria with respiratory symptoms, not typically catheter-related bacteremia. Listeria monocytogenes is a gram-positive rod that is motile under some conditions and is associated with menu- or neonatal infections rather than device-associated bacteremia. Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of catheter infections but is not coryneform (it’s cocci), so it doesn’t match the described organism.