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.