Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum as the name implies contains tuberculostearic acid in the cell wall. This isolate also contains mycolic acid and may stain partially acid-fast. C. tuberculostearicum is recognized as a leprosy-derived corynebacteria (LDC) because it is associated with lesions caused by Mycobacterium leprae.
The organisms stain Gram-positive, are often pleomorphic where one or both ends may be swollen and are lipophilic. Isolates are non-hemolytic, small, white, and convex with smooth edges. C. tuberculostearicum ferment glucose, galactose, fructose, mannose, and ribose.
In addition to the association with leprosy, this organism has been implicated as a cause of mastitis. It has also been recovered in deep tissue biopsies from patients that have had extensive surgeries with long hospital stays and treated with long-term broad-spectrum antibiotics.
