To determine the epidemiology and clinical features of disease due to nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in our institution, we reviewed the medical records of all patients from whom NTM isolates were recovered from 1988 to 1990 to extract selected clinical and laboratory data. On the basis of the likelihood of infection, patients were classified as having definite, probable, or unlikely NTM disease as defined by published guidelines. Of 80 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 17 had definite NTM disease, and 23 had probable NTM disease. No differences in age, sex, presence of underlying pulmonary or nonpulmonary disease, or chest radiographic abnormalities were noted between patients with and without NTM disease. More than 85% of all definite or probable cases were caused by Mycobacterium avium complex, Mycobacterium kansasii, and Mycobacterium fortuitum complex. The diagnosis of NTM disease was often delayed or missed, which resulted in unsatisfactory management of patients. There is a need to educate physicians about the diagnosis and management of NTM infections.
This prospective surveillance suggested that L pneumophila and viral agents were uncommon causes of nosocomial pneumonia at our institution during this surveillance period.
A precise method of assaving viruIence of Sfaphylo~occmis a u r a s for mice by intraperitmml injection with mucin is described; the resuIts indicated that most bacteriophage types of S. aprreus possessed similar virulence, an LDgo consisting of millions of orga~lisms. The variability in results of similar tests by previo~is authors i s thought to reside in the use of techniques allowing excessive variability.The Smith strain of S. alcreus is shown to be exceptionally virulent, requiring only one colony-form in^ unit to kill a mouse. However, the survival time of mice after inoculation with the Smith strain i s longcr than that of other strains giving equivalent mortality. An esplanation is suggested for this latter phenomenon, and the manner in which the Smith strain causes death is considered.
IntroductionThe purpose of the work described in this paper was to inject strains of Staphylococcus aureus into mice in an attempt to obtain a reproducibIe test of virulence. When the work was started, certain bacteriophage types, notably 80/81, seemed to be more frequentlv associated with outbreaks of infection in hospitals OVilliams 1959) and, since no tests comparing the virulence of different bacteriophage types had been reported, we thought it of importance to investigate this. A preliminary review of the Iiterature revealed a
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.