G. Funke et al., Emergence of related nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae biotype mitis strains in western Europe, EM INFECT D, 5(3), 1999, pp. 477-480
We report on 17 isolates of Corynebacterium diphtheriae biotype mitis with
related ribotypes from Switzerland, Germany, and France. Isolates came from
skin and subcutaneous infections of injecting drug users, homeless persons
, prisoners, and elderly orthopedic patients with joint prostheses or prima
ry joint infections. Such isolates had only been observed in Switzerland.