A 1-month-old male infant presented with fever, poor feeding, and respiratory distress, leading to admission for suspected sepsis. Blood cultures, initially showing Gram-positive rods, were identified as Corynebacterium kroppenstedtii via MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The infant, born prematurely at 34 weeks, had a history of gastroschisis repair and had been discharged two weeks prior. Despite the pathogen's typical association with breast abscesses, this case highlights its rare occurrence as a bloodstream infection in a neonate, emphasizing the importance of accurate identification of unusual organisms in vulnerable populations for appropriate treatment.
Key note: C. kroppenstedtii can cause serious bloodstream infections in neonates.