The Corynebacterium species are found in the human microbiota and tend to be considered commensal bacteria.
Some species can cause disease in humans, with the most notable being diphtheria, caused by C. diphtheriae. Corynebacterium can be an opportunistic pathogen if given the chance to infect a wound, for example.
Sometimes the vulva, urinary tract or vagina can be affected.
Non lipophilic – less dangerous – species of this bacterial family include:
- Corynebacterium diphtheriae group
- Corynebacterium xerosis and Corynebacterium striatum
- Corynebacterium minutissimum
- Corynebacterium amycolatum
- Corynebacterium glucuronolyticum
- Corynebacterium argentoratense
- Corynebacterium matruchotii
- Corynebacterium glutamicum
- Corynebacterium sp.
- Corynebacterium afermentans subsp. afermentans
- Corynebacterium auris
- Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum
- Corynebacterium propinquum
Lipophilic – more dangerous – species include:
- Corynebacterium uropygiale
- Corynebacterium jeikeium
- Corynebacterium urealyticum
- Corynebacterium afermentans subsp. lipophilum
- Corynebacterium accolens
- Corynebacterium macginleyi
- CDC coryneform groups F-1 and G
- Corynebacterium bovis
