Mechanisms of Antibiotic Resistance in Corynebacterium spp. Causing Infections in People

In recent years we can observe an increasing number of publications describing different incidents of infections, where species of Corynebacterium are isolated as the etiological factor of infection (Anderson et al., 2008; Campanile et al., 2009; Chiner et al., 1999; Dela et al., 2008; Fernandez-Roblas et al., 2009; Funke et al., 1997a; Funke et al., 1997b; Lagrou et al., 1998; Otsuka et al., 2005; Ostuka et al., 2006; Williams et al., 1993). It is a large and very diverse group of microorganisms, in which Corynebacterium diphtheriae is the most important species, with the most important human-pathogenic significance (Gomes et al., 2009; Wagner et al., 2011; Wilson, 1995). Strains of this species produce a strong exotoxine and are responsible for causing diphtheria. Well-developed procedures for diagnosis of diphtheria and conducted large-scale vaccinations resulted in erradication of diphtheria in most countries. Beside the typical human-pathogenic C. diphtheriae, the genus Corynebacterium comprises more than 85 different species of pathogenic significance. This type includes species pathogenic for animals, e.g. C. pseudotuberculosis (Baird & Fontanie, 2007; Nieto et al., 2009), C. kutscheri (Amao et al., 2008; Suzuki et al., 1988), C. canis (Funke et al., 2009) and a very large group of species colonizing the skin and mucous membranes of man, which in favorable circumstances, may become the cause of serious infections in humans. These opportunistic organisms, e.g. C. jeikeium (Ifantidou et al., 2010; Pitcher et al., 1990; Rosato et al., 2001), C. urealyticum (Funke et al., 1997b; Garcia-Bravo et al. 1996; López-Medrano et al., 2008), C. amycolatum (Anderson et al., 2008; Dela et al., 2008; Funke et al., 1997b), C. striatum (Campanile et al., 2009; Funke et al., 1997b; Martinem-Martinez et al., 1995; Ostuka et al., 2006; Roberts et al., 1992), C. pseudodiphtehriticum (Chiner et al., 1999; Dorello et al., 2006; Freman et al., 1994; Olender & Niemcewicz, 2010), may cause infections of various course: mild, chronic and acute, as well as of invasive nature, life-threatening to a patient. The genus Corynebacterium includes also species unrelated to the human organism, e.g. C. glutamicum, producing L-glutamic acid and lysine, used in biotechnological processes on the industrial scale and in genetic studies (Katsumata et al., 1984; Serwold-Davis et al., 1987; Tauch et al., 1998; Wendisch et al., 2006; Valbuena et al., 2007, Yague Guirao et al., 2005).