Corynebacterium macginleyi: a conjunctiva specific pathogen.
BACKGROUND
Although non-diphtherial corynebacteria are ubiquitous in nature and commonly colonise the skin and mucous membranes of humans, they rarely account for clinical infection.


RESULTS
10 patients with unilateral conjunctivitis are described in which Corynebacterium macginleyi was isolated. This species has only recently been reported to be exclusively isolated form ocular surfaces. C macginleyi was uniformly susceptible to topical antibiotics commonly used in ophthalmology.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the fact that the pathogenicity of C macginleyi is not yet assured, this micro-organism should be recognised as a potential cause of bacterial superinfections. Appropriate antibiotic therapy leads to its elimination and resolution of the conjunctivitis.
Joussen
A M
AM
Department of Ophthalmology, Technical University of Aachen (RWTH), Aachen, Germany. JoussenA@aol.com
Funke
G
G
Joussen
F
F
Herbertz
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D003234:Conjunctivitis, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003352:Corynebacterium / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged