Exudative pharyngitis and Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum: A case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum is an established member of the normal flora of the respiratory tract. This organism is an emerging cause of respiratory tract infection, as well as infection of the skin and skin structures, urinary tract and other sterile sites. The syndrome of C. pseudodiphtheriticum exudative pharyngitis is a diagnostic challenge of particular relevance in recent times as this organism can be confused with Corynebacterium diphtheriae in the clinical setting and in the laboratory. We report a case of exudative pharyngitis, possibly due to C. pseudodiphtheriticum, in a 14-month old, incompletely vaccinated, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive infant and review the role of this organism in terms of its microbiological profile and identification, disease spectrum and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern.

Genomic characterization of cocirculating Corynebacterium diphtheriae and non-diphtheritic Corynebacterium species among forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals, 2017–2019

“…NDCs are considered commensal members of the healthy microflora but have gradually been recognized as emerging opportunistic pathogens capable of causing endocarditis, pneumonitis, bronchiectasis or skin infections [31][32][33][34][35][36]. Most notably, C. pseudodiphtheriticum can cause exudative pharyngitis resembling the typical toxin-mediated pseudomembrane associated with C. diphtheriae [32,[37][38][39][40], leading to clinical and laboratory diagnostic challenges, particularly during a diphtheria outbreak investigation [8]. Few genomic studies of NDC isolates have been reported and the ecology of these human-associated species, including their potential for causing disease, remains poorly understood [41,42].…”

“…pseudodiphtheriticum can cause exudative pharyngitis resembling the typical toxin-mediated pseudomembrane associated with C. diphtheriae [32, 37–40], leading to clinical and laboratory diagnostic challenges, particularly during a diphtheria outbreak investigation [8]. Few genomic studies of NDC isolates have been reported and the ecology of these human-associated species, including their potential for causing disease, remains poorly understood [41, 42].…”