title: Non Diphtheritic Corynebacteria: An Emerging Nosocomial Pathogen in Skin and Soft Tissue Infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Non-diphtheritic corynebacteria are normal inhabitants of skin and mucous membrane. When isolated from clinical specimens they are often considered as contaminants. Recent reports suggest their role as emerging nosocomial pathogens.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To speciate non-diphtheritic corynebacteria isolated from wound specimens, to correlate their clinical significance and to determine their invitro antimicrobial susceptibilities to 9 antimicrobial agents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty five non-diphtheritic corynebacteria from skin and soft tissue infections were selected for study. Isolates were identified by battery of tests and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was detected by Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) described broth microdilution method. MIC was interpreted according CLSI and British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC) guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  C. amycolatum was the predominant species (20%) followed by C. striatum (16%). Penicillin was least effective invitro followed by clindamycin and ciprofloxacin. Excellent activities were shown by vancomycin, linezolid and imipenem. Multidrug resistance was found in all the species.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-diphtheritic corynebacteria are potential nosocomial pathogens among acute/chronic complicated skin and soft tissue infection. Vancomycin or linezolid can be used empirically to treat such infections until the invitro susceptibility results are available.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, ESIC MC & PGIMSR , Rajajinagar, Bangalore, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Shoorashetty Manohar
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Rudresh
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, ESIC MC & PGIMSR , Rajajinagar, Bangalore, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Ravi
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Student, Department of Microbiology, ESIC MC & PGIMSR , Rajajinagar, Bangalore, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Ann Mary
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Alex
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Student, Department of Microbiology, ESIC MC & PGIMSR , Rajajinagar, Bangalore, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Mamatha
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Student, Department of Microbiology, ESIC MC & PGIMSR , Rajajinagar, Bangalore, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sunitha
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Student, Department of Microbiology, ESIC MC & PGIMSR , Rajajinagar, Bangalore, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: K Thangam
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Ramya
keywords: C. amycolatum; Diphtheroids; Multidrug resistance
references.citation: Clin Microbiol Rev. 1990 Jul;3(3):227-46
references.pmid: 2116939
references.citation: Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2013 Feb;108(1):23-9
references.pmid: 23440110
references.citation: Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1995 Jan;39(1):208-14
references.pmid: 7695308
references.citation: Clin Microbiol Rev. 2001 Apr;14(2):244-69
references.pmid: 11292638
references.citation: Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1987 May;31(5):821-2
references.pmid: 3606082
references.citation: Clin Infect Dis. 2007 Jan 15;44(2):280-6
references.pmid: 17173232
references.citation: J Clin Microbiol. 1979 Mar;9(3):418-24
references.pmid: 110826
references.citation: Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 1998 Jan;30(1):7-15
references.pmid: 9488824
references.citation: Clin Microbiol Rev. 1997 Jan;10(1):125-59
references.pmid: 8993861
references.citation: Perit Dial Int. 2004 Sep-Oct;24(5):454-9
references.pmid: 15490985
references.citation: J Clin Microbiol. 2008 Aug;46(8):2646-51
references.pmid: 18562580
references.citation: Int J Infect Dis. 2010 Sep;14 Suppl 3:e265-8
references.pmid: 20171132