Ocular Infections Caused by 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.