ABSTRACT
The discussion in this chapter includes several diverse genera that mayor may not have much relationship to each other from a phylogenetic perspective. They are all Gram positive bacilli which grow aerobically and, in general, are not responsible for common infections even on a worldwide basis. Changes in this area of bacteriology are many, but with some exceptions such change has not necessarily taken on great importance in contrast to the many new, emerging, and re-emerging pathogens among other bacterial groups. In this chapter, we review the diagnostic bacteriology for Corynebacterium spp., Listeria spp., Bacillus spp., propionibacteria, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, Arcanobacterium, and Gardnerella, among other Gram positive bacilli that are not strict anaerobes. For a detailed discussion of the actinomycetes and mycobacteria, see Chapter 14. For a detailed discussion of strict anaerobic Gram positive bacilli, see Chapter 25.
