title: Clinical microbiology of coryneform bacteria.
abstract: Coryneform bacteria are aerobically growing, asporogenous, non-partially-acid-fast, gram-positive rods of irregular morphology. Within the last few years, there has been a massive increase in the number of publications related to all aspects of their clinical microbiology. Clinical microbiologists are often confronted with making identifications within this heterogeneous group as well as with considerations of the clinical significance of such isolates. This review provides comprehensive information on the identification of coryneform bacteria and outlines recent changes in taxonomy. The following genera are covered: Corynebacterium, Turicella, Arthrobacter, Brevibacterium, Dermabacter. Propionibacterium, Rothia, Exiguobacterium, Oerskovia, Cellulomonas, Sanguibacter, Microbacterium, Aureobacterium, "Corynebacterium aquaticum," Arcanobacterium, and Actinomyces. Case reports claiming disease associations of coryneform bacteria are critically reviewed. Minimal microbiological requirements for publications on disease associations of coryneform bacteria are proposed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Zürich, Switzerland. funke@immv.unizh.ch
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Funke
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: von Graevenitz
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Clarridge
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Bernard
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. / Q000592:standards; D003352:Corynebacterium / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003354:Corynebacterium Infections / Q000145:classification* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D014481:United States