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Exudative pharyngitis and Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum: A case report and review of the literature

Kessendri Reddy1,2, Sebastian Gericke3, Helena Rabie4

  • 1Department of Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Services Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa.

Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases
|September 6, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum can cause respiratory infections and is often mistaken for Corynebacterium diphtheriae. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges and reviews the organism's profile and susceptibility.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum is a common respiratory tract commensal.
  • It is increasingly recognized as a pathogen causing diverse infections.
  • Distinguishing it from Corynebacterium diphtheriae is crucial for patient management.

Observation:

  • A case of exudative pharyngitis possibly caused by C. pseudodiphtheriticum is presented.
  • The patient was a 14-month-old, incompletely vaccinated, HIV-positive infant.
  • This presentation underscores the diagnostic difficulties in clinical and laboratory settings.

Findings:

  • The study reviews the microbiological characteristics of C. pseudodiphtheriticum.
  • It details the spectrum of diseases caused by this emerging pathogen.
  • Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns are analyzed to guide treatment strategies.

Implications:

  • Accurate identification of C. pseudodiphtheriticum is vital to avoid misdiagnosis with C. diphtheriae.
  • Understanding its pathogenic potential is important for managing infections in immunocompromised individuals.
  • This review provides valuable insights for clinicians and microbiologists dealing with Corynebacterium-related infections.
Keywords:
Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum clinical presentationCorynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum disease spectrumCorynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum laboratory identificationemerging pathogenexudative pharyngitis

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