Rapid prediction of Corynebacterium urealyticum urinary tract infection and hyperammonemia via urinalysis and Gram staining: a case report

Abstract

Urease-producing bacterial urinary tract infections can be one of the causes of hyperammonemia leading to altered consciousness. Corynebacterium urealyticum, a urease-producing bacterium, is known as a rare causative pathogen of hyperammonemia due to urinary tract infection. However, the diagnosis is often delayed because it takes time to identify the bacteria through culture. In this report, we present a case where the possibility of hyperammonemia due to Corynebacterium urealyticum urinary tract infection was considered early on, and appropriate antimicrobial therapy was initiated, leading to a rapid improvement in both the level of consciousness and blood ammonia concentration.