A rare case of ventriculoperitoneal shunt co-infection with Brevibacterium and Corynebacterium minutissimum organisms

Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt infections are associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality from complications such as meningitis, ventriculitis, shunt malfunction and in some cases, recurrence of infection. Brevibacterium and Corynebacterium are gram positive organisms that are rarely implicated in VP shunt infections but are more commonly associated with colonization of dialysis and central venous catheters. Typical microbiological isolates in VP shunt infections include Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and gram-negative rods. Here, we describe the case of a young woman who had VP shunt placement for over a decade without any history of infection, and now presented with new-onset VP shunt co-infection with Brevibacterium and Corynebacterium organisms.