Korean J Lab Med.
2004 Dec;24(6):392-395.
Five Cases of Arcanobacterium haemolyticum Isolated from Skin Ulcer and Peritonsillar Abscess
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. jaeseok@hallym.or.kr
- 2Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- 3Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seoul National University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
- Arcanobacterium haemolyticum is a cause of chronic skin ulcers in diabetic patients and respiratory infection, especially pharyngitis in healthy person. Less frequently, it is a cause of osteomyelitis, meningitis, pneumonia, abscess, endocarditis and sepsis. We isolated A. haemolyticum from 5 patients including foot or back ulceration in 3 diabetic patients, wound on calcaneus in a chronic osteomyelitis patient and peritonsillar abscess in a pharyngitis patient. A. haemolyticum is usually isolated with other microorganisms and coryneform bacilli which are often considered to be nonpathogenic normal flora or contaminants in wound infections. The correct diagnosis of this microorganism is important for proper treatment and prevention of serious infections.