JK coryneforms: a continuing problem for hospital infection control.

Control of nosocomial infection is complicated by emergence of endogenous flora as nosocomial pathogens. The JK group of diphtheroids (coryneforms) exemplify this problem. Infection with these organisms is frequent in certain segments of the hospital population and is associated with procedures as well as drug therapy. A number of factors suggest that cross-infection due to JK coryneforms may become even more prominent in the future. Development of rational control measures will require attention to problems of organism definition and methods used for identifying cases, characterizing the patient at risk, and typing organisms in epidemiologic studies.