More than half of the microorganisms that normally inhabit the skin are gram-positive, pleomorphic, aerobic rods that belong to the genus Corynebacterium. Except for Corynebacterium diphtheriae, none of the organisms exhibit strictly species-definable biochemical, morphologic, or cultural characteristics. (Reference)7 Coryneform bacteria are not generally considered pathogenic, though they do threaten immunocompromised individuals. (Reference)8,9 A study (Reference)10 has shown that these bacteria can hydrolyze keratin, the main protein component of the upper skin layers. (Physician and Sportsmedicine October, 1996 Vol. 24, No. 10; Pg. 51)