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.
