Emerging Insights into Corynebacterium kroppenstedtii Associated Breas

Introduction

The Corynebacterium kroppenstedtii complex (CKC), including Corynebacterium kroppenstedtii (CK), Corynebacterium parakroppenstedtii (CPK), and Corynebacterium pseudokroppenstedtii, has emerged as a significant group of pathogens associated with granulomatous lobular mastitis (GLM).¹ CPK and C. pseudokroppenstedtii were recently recognized as distinct species within this complex through genomic and phylogenetic analyses, which revealed their close genetic relationship to CK.² Routine clinical identification methods, such as Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), often fail to differentiate these species, necessitating advanced genomic approaches like 16S rRNA sequencing, whole-genome sequencing, and digital…