Breast abscess due to Corynebacterium striatum

Corynebacterium striatum, a normal constituent of the skin flora, is rarely pathogenic. Previous reports of infection are few, and are mainly confined to immunosuppressed patients or those with indwelling prosthetic devices. We report a case in which the organism caused a recurrent breast abscess in a woman with normal immune function. The only previous reports of Corynebacterium striatum mastitis have been in cows.