Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum pneumonia in an immunologically intact host

Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum, a gram-positive bacillus commonly found in the human oropharynx, has been reported as a rare cause of infection in compromised hosts. We report herein a case of lower respiratory tract infection with Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum in a previously healthy 29-yr-old trauma victim. The organism was the predominant bacterial isolate from two endotracheal aspirates and a specific humoral response was demonstrated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.