Late-onset prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae

Abstract

In developed countries, Corynebacterium diphtheriae infection is rare due to efficient immunization programs. However, cases of nontoxigenic strains of C. diphtheriae infections, including endocarditis, have been reported recently. Although the incidence remains low, these infections are associated with high morbidity and mortality. This report describes the first and atypical case of bacteremia and endocarditis caused by nontoxigenic C. diphtheriae var. gravis after introduction of immunization in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).