Abstract
Brevibacterium species are Gram-positive, non-sporulating, coryneform, aerobic rods that are catalase positive and exhibit a distinctive transition from diptheroid to coccoid morphology during culture. Infections by these species are seldom identified. Objective: This narrative review aims to present all the reported cases of Brevibacterium spp. infections in humans, focusing on data about epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial treatment, and mortality. A narrative review based on a literature search of PubMed/MedLine and Scopus databases was performed. In total, 41 studies providing data on 42 patients with Brevibacterium spp. infections were included in the present analysis. The median age was 48 years, while 57.5% were male. The presence of a central venous catheter and malignancy, and end-stage renal disease on peritoneal dialysis were the main predisposing factors. Bacteremia was the most common type of infection, with peritoneal dialysis-associated infections being the second most common. B. casei was the most commonly identified species. Microbial identification required the use of advanced molecular techniques, such as 16s rRNA sequencing or matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry in most cases. Brevibacterium spp. was highly resistant to the combination of trimethoprim with sulfamethoxazole, clindamycin, and common beta-lactams. The most commonly used antimicrobials were vancomycin and aminoglycosides. The mortality was about 10%. Clinicians and laboratory personnel should consider this pathogen in the differential diagnosis in patients with malignancy or peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis. Vancomycin should be used for empirical treatment and while antimicrobial susceptibility testing results are pending.