Changing anaerobic spectrum in suppurative lung disease: a case report.

A spectrum of three different anaerobes were isolated from a debilitated patient with suppurative lung disease, within a two-year period. Repeated isolation from three consecutive samples and symptomatic relief with metronidazole provide clinical evidence of anaerobic lung infection. This case emphasizes the importance of anaerobic culture in cases of protracted pulmonary suppurative disease.

Fungal colonization in gastric ulcers.

Until now studies on fungal colonization of gastric ulcers were retrospective involving small series of patients. This prospective study of 50 patients with gastric ulcers (25 benign and 25 malignant) revealed colonization by Candida in 17 (34%) cases. There was no significant difference in colonization between benign and malignant ulcers. Follow up revealed no difference in healing of ulcers with or without fungal colonization.

Bacteriological study of bronchoalveolar lavage in immunocompromised hosts.

Sixty bronchoalveolar lavage samples collected from lung cancer patients attending the Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases Unit of the Kasturba Medical College Hospital, Manipal; were cultured for both the aerobic and anaerobic organisms. Fifty nine samples yielded bacteria in pure culture. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (34.8%) was the commonest aerobe, Peptostreptococcus was the commonest anaerobe (45.2%) isolated. Bacteroides fragilis was isolated in (23.8%) of cases. Gentamycin was found to be effective against aerobes, Metronidazole and Rifampicin against anaerobes.

Bacteriology of bile in obstructive jaundice.

Bile from 25 patients with obstructive jaundice was cultured for both aerobic and anaerobic organisms. Twenty one samples were positive for culture. Mixed bacterial growth was seen in 5 (20%) of the bile samples 25 aerobes and one anaerobic were isolated. Escherichia coli was the commonest aerobic isolate and Bacteroides fragilis was the single anaerobe isolated. Majority of the aerobes isolated were sensitive to gentamycin.

Bacteriology of peritoneal fluid in paediatric surgical emergencies.

This study deals with the incidence of aerobic and anaerobic organisms of the peritoneal fluid of 60 consecutive children subjected to emergency celiotomy. Two-thirds of the cases were below the age of year. Peritoneal fluid was collected immediately after entering the peritoneal cavity and inoculated both for aerobic an anaerobic cultures. Bacterial growth occurred in 34 (57%) of the specimens. Anaerobic bacteria alone grew in 3 (5%) of the specimens, aerobes alone in 22 (37%) of specimens. A mixed aerobic and anaerobic bacteria grew in 9 (15%) of the specimens. There were 44 aerobic and 19 anaerobic isolates. All anaerobes were sensitive to metronidazole while most of the aerobes were sensitive to gentamycin. Culture was positive in 20 out of 42 (47.6%) specimens, where the peritoneal fluid was clear and there was no evidence of peritoneal contamination at the time of surgery.