Arcanobacterium haemolyticum formerly known as Corynebacteria haemolyticum is a Gram positive bacilli. It is a fastidious, facultative anerobic, catalase negative, beta haemolytic and non motile bacterium. Gram positive bacilli are usually considered to be non-pathogenic as the majority are part of normal flora of human skin and mucous membranes. Hence, diagnosis of such infection and its treatment may be delayed by a failure of recognition. However, this bacterium has been implicated in wound, superficial and deep-seated soft tissue infections, endocarditis, osteomyelitis, meningitis, pneumonia, and also septicemia. The early diagnostic evaluation of this organism is emphasized. We report a case series which illustrates the significance of Arcanobacterium haemolyticum in skin and soft tissue infections.
Keywords: human pathogen and gram positive bacilli; soft tissue infection.