Objective <p>To report a case of <i>Corynebacterium striatum</i> meningitis and conduct a comprehensive literature review to determine the clinical presentation, microbiology, and treatment approaches for these patients.</p> Materials and methods <p>A 75-year-old male patient presented with headache and fever; however, bacterial cultures of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) yielded negative results. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of CSF subsequently identified <i>Corynebacterium striatum</i> meningitis as the causative agent for meningitis. A systematic search was performed across various databases encompassing systematic reviews, cohort studies, case series, and case reports involving patients diagnosed with <i>Corynebacterium striatum</i> meningitis regardless of age. Clinical presentation characteristics and the most frequently employed diagnostic technologies were obtained. A narrative summary of the findings is presented.</p> Results <p><i>Corynebacterium striatum</i> meningitis patients do not exhibit any specific age or sex predisposition or distinctive symptoms or signs. In patients with <i>Corynebacterium striatum</i> meningitis, CSF tests typically reveal an increased number of white blood cells (predominantly polymorphonuclear cells), elevated protein levels, and decreased glucose levels. Notably, the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant strains of <i>Corynebacterium striatum</i> has increased in recent years, leading to a gradual rise in antibiotic treatment failure rates. It is predicted that by 2030, vancomycin may be the sole effective drug available.</p> Conclusion <p>The possibility of <i>Corynebacterium striatum</i> infection should be considered during clinical diagnosis and laboratory testing procedures for bacterial meningitis. mNGS can serve as a supplementary gold standard in the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis, effectively enhancing the detection rate of rare pathogens.</p>