Sputum: Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum – Shipped November 07, 2016
HISTORY
A simulated Sputum sample collected from a 68 year old patient in a haematology clinic with pneumonia on chest X-ray was sent to category A and B laboratories.
The sputum was considered suitable for culture with a Gram smear Q score of 3. Participants were expected to isolate, identify, and report Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum.
MAIN EDUCATIONAL POINTS from M163-2
- Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum is a clinically relevant lower respiratory tract pathogen when cultured from respiratory specimens of symptomatic patients.
- Most respiratory tract infections with C. pseudodiphtheriticum occur in patients with underlying comorbidity such as asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Congestive heart failure (CHF) or in the immunocompromised.
CMPT is a program of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C. Canada.