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Coryneform bacteria
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 08.07.2025
Some corynebacteria - normally non-pathogenic inhabitants of human skin or pathogenic for animals, can also cause diseases in people, but mainly in people with impaired immunity. Such microorganisms are called coryneform bacteria or diphtheroids.
C. pseudodiphthericum (C. hojfmani) is a permanent normal inhabitant of the human pharynx and nose; forms straight short cells, often without grains, arranged in a "palisade"; biochemically inert, but possess urease. C. pseudodiphthericum is rarely isolated from sputum of patients with bronchitis and pulmonary abscesses.
C. ulcerans is a pathogen of cattle, produces a toxin and causes mastitis in cows, but in rare cases is the cause of diphtheria-like diseases in humans. According to its morphological properties, it is ovoid cells, randomly located in smears. Biochemically close to C. diphtherias gravis.
C. xerosis is a saprophytic microorganism in humans, inhabiting the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract and associated cavities. It is isolated in conjunctivitis and purulent-septic lesions.
C pseudotuberculosis - affects people in rare cases, mainly through contact with sheep and goats, causing septic lymphadenitis.
C. jetkeium is part of the normal flora of the skin, groin and armpit areas, but is also considered the causative agent of purulent-septic diseases, endocarditis, pneumonia, meningitis in patients with immunodeficiency states.
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