Alexander von Graevenitz

Recurrent corynebacterium equi infection with lymphoma

A patient with malignant lymphoma developed a cavitating pulmonary lesion from which was isolated Corynebacterium equi as well as Streptococcus pneumoniae. C. equi was also cultured from the blood twice, 2 months apart. The infection was controlled initially with ampicillin. The patient had been exposed to horses while receiving immunosuppressive therapy. This is the first published report of septicemia due to this organism and second reported human infection.

Possible Nosocomial Transmission of Group Y Neisseria meningitidis Among Oncology Patients

Within 4 days, two oncology patients in the Clinical Research Unit had bacteremia causes by group Y Neisseria meningitidis. Three additional patients, identified by prevalence survey, were found to have nasopharyngeal colonization with that serogroup, compared with only one employee (not associated with patients) and no family contacts. Infected and colonized (case) patients were located in the same or adjacent rooms but did not have close contact. A comparison of host and risk factors showed no significant differences between case patients and the other (control) patients located in the same rooms. In retrospect, the index patient, who had marked sputum production but was not isolated, had unrecognized meningococcal pneumonia and probably was the hospital source of a heavy, airborne dispersal of organisms to other patients. Respiratory isolation is warranted for patients with suspected N. meningitidis infection.

Antimicrobial resistance of the genera Proteus, Providencia and Serratia with special reference to multiple resistance patterns.

SummaryThe generaProteus, Providencia, andSerratia are known to have consistently shown resistance to one or several of the following antimicrobials: the polymyxins, ampicillin, the cephalosporins, the tetracyclines, and nitrofurantoin. Resistance to other drugs is erratic. In an attempt to investigate the diagnostic possibilities of resistance to colistin, ampicillin, cephalothin, tetracycline, and nitrofurantoin, 1364 strains of the above genera were scanned. The study revealed, however, that resistance to a drug was practically never found in 100% of the strains of a species, and that species-specific patterns could not be demonstrated. Furthermore, R factors could spread to hitherto sensitive strains. Thus, it is unlikely that resistance patterns could do more for the diagnosis of these genera than suggest or exclude, on the basis of statistical evidence, the presence of certain species.

Dipylidium infection in a 6-month-old infant.

Summary A case of dipylidiasis (dog tapeworm) in a 6-month-old infant living in New England is reported. The patient was brought to the hospital because of anal excretion of proglottids. Quinacrine hydrochloride was successfully used for treatment.