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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
07:47
Experimental Human Pneumococcal Carriage
Published on: February 15, 2013
[Pneumonia caused by Corynebacterium pseudodiphteriticum, an entity worth knowing]
C Aspiroz Sancho1, A Agustín Berne, C Navarro Pardos
1Servicios de Microbiología, Hospital de Alcañiz, Teruel. beagle@ctv.es
Anales De Medicina Interna (Madrid, Spain : 1984)
|November 8, 2002
Summary
Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum, a common oropharyngeal bacterium, can cause nosocomial pneumonia in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This infection was successfully treated with cefotaxime, highlighting the importance of identifying less common respiratory pathogens.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Respiratory infections pose significant clinical challenges, with emerging or previously low-virulence microbes increasingly implicated.
- Identifying the causative agent is crucial for effective treatment, especially in immunocompromised or chronically ill patients.
Observation:
- A case of nosocomial pneumonia occurred in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- The pneumonia was caused by Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum, a bacterium typically found in the oropharynx.
Findings:
- Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum demonstrated uniform susceptibility to beta-lactamases, aminoglycosides, rifampin, and tetracycline.
- Variable susceptibility was observed with ciprofloxacin, and frequent resistance to macrolides (erythromycin, clindamycin) was noted.
- The patient's pneumonia resolved successfully following treatment with cefotaxime.
Implications:
- This case underscores the potential for Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum to act as a pathogen in nosocomial pneumonia, particularly in COPD patients.
- Antimicrobial susceptibility testing is vital for guiding treatment, as resistance patterns can vary.
- Cefotaxime appears to be an effective therapeutic option for such infections.
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