The pathogenic potential of coryneform bacteria has been underestimated

Taxonomy
Family: Corynebacteriaceae

Natural habitats
Part of the normal flora of skin, their potential pathogenicity still remains to be assessed.

They has been mainly isolated from skin, blood and from normally sterile body fluids

Clinical significance
C. mucifaciens should be considered as important human pathogen in patients with severe illness and compatible history of exposure even in individuals with no clearly identified immunosuppression.

C. mucifaciens has mainly been isolated from blood cultures and other sterile body fluids, but it has also been recovered from abscesses, soft tissue, dialysates, and cavitary pneumonia, as welkl as ear and nasaopharynx.

Corynebacterium species are becoming recognized as an increasing cause of opportunistic infections.