Here we document a rare, acute, infection caused by non-toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae and the resulting unique and severe clinical sequelae. Our patient was a young man with no known pre-existing conditions that presented in cardiopulmonary arrest. We contrast this case with prior instances of non-toxigenic C. diphtheriae strain infection in the United States and summarize the literature that suggests systemic infection can result in cardiogenic toxicity. We speculate on a possible missed, pre-existing condition that could have increased this patient's susceptibility to poor clinical outcome.
Keywords: C. diphtheria; Corynebacterium diphtheriae; Corynebacterium diphtheriae infection; critical care medicine; non-toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae; prolonged QT syndrome.
Copyright © 2023 Alvarez, Rupert, Sinclair, Miyara, Guevara, Shih and Hoey.