Coryneform bacteria in infectious diseases: clinical and laboratory aspects

Abstract

Coryneform isolates from clinical specimens frequently cannot be identified by either reference laboratories or research laboratories. Many of these organisms are skin flora that belong to a large number of taxonomic groups, only 40% of which are in the genus Corynebacterium. This review provides an update on clinical presentations, microbiological features, and pathogenic mechanisms of infections with nondiphtheria Corynebacterium species and other pleomorphic gram-positive rods. The early literature is also reviewed for a few coryneforms, especially those whose roles as pathogens are controversial. Recognition of newly emerging opportunistic coryneforms is dependent on sound identification schemes which cannot be developed until cell wall analyses and nucleic acid studies have defined the taxonomic groups and all of the reference strains within each taxon have been shown by molecular methods to be authentic members. Only then can reliable batteries of biochemical tests be selected for distinguishing each taxon.

Genomic Diversity and Phylogenetic Relationships among Lipid-Requiring Diphtheroids from Humans and Characterization of Corynebacterium macginleyi sp. nov.

“…Thus, its implication in leprosy disease remains to be determined. Identification of lipid-requiring diphtheroids at the species level seems important for their clinical relevance, since the habitat preferences observed in this study for each genomospecies might reveal the sources of systemic infections such as endocarditis or meningitides (1,5). As shown in Table 3, only the strains of genomospecies I1 (C. accolens) and genomospecies I11 can be clearly differentiated phenotypically from other lipid-requiring diphtheroids.…”

A numerical analysis of ribosomal RNA gene patterns for typing clinical isolates ofCorynebacteriumgroup D2

“…Fatty acid analysis [23], mycolic acid structure [6] API profiles [24,25] and classical biochemical tests [5,7,13,26] also support the conclusion that CD2 is a relatively homogeneous and unique taxon within the genus Corynebacterium. We propose that computer assisted ribotyping could become a very useful method for studying the epidemiology of CD2 and other bacterial taxa which do not lend themselves to other methods of strain differentiation and that the demonstration of a number of conserved restriction fragments in the range 1-10 kb, containing sequences homologous with those of the rRNA operon contributes to the taxonomic delineation of a species.…”

“…Colonization of the skin of hospitalized patients is the probable source of infection [11]. The clinical aspects of CD2 infection have been reviewed by Soriano and Fernandez-Roblas [4,12] and by Coyle and Lipsky [13] but there have as yet, been no attempts to type these bacteria.…”

Trichomycosis (trichobacteriosis) axillaris

“…Encapsulated corynebacteria entrapped in a biofilm serve as adhering mechanism, which possibly helps to escape immunological attack by the host. 2,3,4 The condition is easily recognized by the clinicians. Wood's light examination reveals pale-yellow fluorescence.…”

“…Topical ammonium chloride solution and drying powders counter perspiration and their regular use may prevent further recurrences. 1,2,5 …”