Lower respiratory tract infections due to non-diphtheria corynebacteria in 8 patients with underlying lung diseases.
Non-Diphtheria corynebacteria had been considered a commensal habitant of the human skin and mucous membrane. There are few reports of pulmonary infections due to Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum or other non-diphtheria corynebacteria occurring in immunocompetent patients. From 1978 to 1986, 8 patients with lower respiratory tract infections with Corynebacterium sp. was observed. In 6 of 8 instances the causative microorganism was C. pseudodiphtheriticum. The above 8 patients had underlying pulmonary diseases but were not associated with immunosuppressive state, except one. Seven of them recovered from the infection in response to antimicrobial therapy. All 6 isolates of C. pseudodiphtheriticum were sensitive to nine antimicrobial agents which were six beta-lactam agents, gentamicin, minocycline and norfloxacin.
Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University.
N
N
Rikitomi
T
T
Nagatake
K
K
Matsumoto
K
K
Watanabe
N
N
Mbaki
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003352:Corynebacterium / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003354:Corynebacterium Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology