Pulmonary abscess due to Corynebacterium striatum.

Non-diphtheria corynebacteria are normal commensals of the skin and mucous membranes of humans. Increasingly, however, these saprophytic organisms are being recognized as pathogens. Patients infected with these bacteria typically have an underlying immunosuppressive process and/or an indwelling venous catheter. Pleuropulmonary infection with Corynebacterium striatum is rare. We present a patient with diabetes mellitus who developed an intrapulmonary abscess due to C. striatum.