An ad hoc committee for the re-evaluation of the species definition in bacteriology met in Gent, Belgium, in February 2002. The committee made various recommendations regarding the species definition in the light of developments in methodologies available to systematists.

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Thirty-nine Danish cases of Capnocytophaga canimorsus septicemia were reviewed to determine the clinical course of this infection. The cases of septicemia were related to recent dog bites or other close contact with dogs. The period from the bite to the onset of symptoms ranged from 1 to 8 days. The mean age of the patients was 59.1 years (range, 28-83 years). Underlying conditions included previous splenectomy and alcoholism. Thirteen patients had previously been in good health. Common initial symptoms were fever, malaise, myalgia, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dyspnea, confusion, headache and skin manifestations. Disseminated intravascular coagulation developed in 14 patients, meningitis in 5, and endocarditis in 1. Twelve of the patients died. All patients except two were treated with penicillin or ampicillin. Five patients had received antibiotics prior to admission. Attention should be drawn to C. canimorsus septicemia in cases of febrile illness following dog bites or contact with dogs, as well as those involving previously healthy persons. The incidence of this condition in Denmark is estimated to be 0.5 case per 1 million people per year.

A collection of 2,209 isolates of six polysaccharide capsule types of Haemophi/us influenzoe, including 1,975 serotype b isolates recovered in 30 countries was characterized for electrophoretically demonstrable allele profiles at 17 metabolic enzyme loci. Two hundred eighty distinct multilocus genotypes were distinguished, and cluster analysis revealed two primary phylogenetic divisions. The population structure of encapsulated H. influenzae is clonal. Currently, most of the invasive disease worldwide is caused by serotype b strains of nine clones, Strains producing serotype c, e, and f capsules belong to single divisions and have no close genetic relationships to strains of other serotypes, Serotype a and b strains occur in both primary phylogenetic divisions, probably as a result of transfer and recombination of serotype-specific sequences of the cap region between clonal lineages. A close genetic relatedness between serotype d isolates and some strains of serotypes a and b was identified, There are strong patterns of geographic variation, on an intercontinental scale, in both the extent of genetic diversity and the clonal composition of populations of encapsulated strains, The analysis suggests that the present distribution of clones is, in part, related to patterns of racial or ethnic differentiation and historical demographic movements of the human host populations.

Agrobacterium species and Ochrobactrum anthropi are generally considered innocuous in clinical settings, yet during the last decade a number of sporadic cases of human infection due to these organisms have been reported. We studied nine cases of infection (septicemia and peritonitis) caused by Agrobacterium-like microorganisms in eight patients. All patients were immunocompromised and had permanent central venous or peritoneal dialysis catheters in place. Seven patients were women, and eight infections were community acquired. Six isolates were identified as Agrobacterium species and three as O. anthropi. These two groups of strains differed in the production of beta-galactosidase and of acid from lactose, erythritol, salicin, and cellobiose. All strains were strictly aerobic, peritrichous, gram-negative bacilli that produced oxidase, urease, and acid from glucose, fructose, arabinose, xylose, mannitol, inositol, and ethanol. The in vitro adherence of isotope-labeled bacteria to silicone tubes was similar to that of staphylococci. We conclude that Agrobacterium species and O. anthropi can be pathogenic in immunocompromised patients with permanent catheters.