A patient with COVID-19-induced respiratory failure developed ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) caused by Corynebacterium accolens. Initial sputum cultures showed polymicrobial growth, but subsequent bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cultures, analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), identified C. accolens as the predominant pathogen. The patient was successfully treated with cefazolin, leading to clinical improvement. This case highlights the importance of considering unusual organisms like C. accolens in VAP, especially in immunocompromised or critically ill patients, and the utility of advanced diagnostic methods like MALDI-TOF MS for accurate identification.
Key note: Corynebacterium accolens can cause ventilator-associated pneumonia in critically ill patients, requiring accurate identification for targeted therapy.