**Ocular Infections Caused by** *Corynebacterium* **Species**

Hiroshi Eguchi

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Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/56214

**1. Introduction**

#### **1.1. The history of** *Corynebacterium* **species**

The most well-known *Corynebacterium* species, *Corynebacterium diphtheliae*, causes diphthe‐ ria. However, in 1970, the clinical value of identification of *Corynebacterium* diphtheriae be‐ came less medically significant owing to the development of diphtheria toxoids and a decrease in the prevalence of diphtheritic infection in developed countries. Other *Corynebac‐ terium* species have been considered contaminants when found in clinical samples because they are organisms normally found in the skin, mucous membranes, and other human tis‐ sues. Given that *Corynebacterium* species are one of the most commonly isolated bacteria from the ocular surfaces [1, 2], they are also considered non-pathogenic in the ophthalmic field.

Currently, in a clinical setting, many bacteriological laboratory technicians in hospitals re‐ port *Corynebacterium* species as "Gram-positive rods". Sometimes, the presence of *Corynebac‐ terium* species is not reported because it is considered to be contaminants. As a result, it is not possible for ophthalmologists to determine whether *Corynebacterium* species are present in clinical samples by using laboratory tests. This makes the *Corynebacterium* species to be nonpathogenic for ophthalmologists leading to therapeutic failure.
