Susceptibilities to antibiotics and antiseptics of new species of the family Enterobacteriaceae.

One hundred and sixty-nine strains of new species of the family Enterobacteriaceae, isolated mainly from the environment, were tested to determine their susceptibilities to 13 antibiotics and 4 antiseptics or disinfectants. All the species were susceptible to aminoglycosides, doxycycline, and trimethoprim but were resistant to chloramphenicol. Susceptibility to beta-lactams varied more among the strains. However, all the strains were cefotaxime susceptible, apart from some Buttiauxella agrestis strains for which MICs were greater than 256 micrograms/ml. The antiseptic MBCs were similar to those published elsewhere for species of the Enterobacteriaceae of clinical origin. No resistance to chlorhexidine was observed. On the other hand, the environmental strains presented a greater resistance to active chlorine than did the reference strains.

Septicemia caused by Sphingobacterium multivorum.

Sphingobacterium multivorum was isolated in pure culture from the blood of a man undergoing chemotherapy for a lymphoma. He responded to appropriate antibiotics and later showed a significant rise in specific serum antibodies. Carbon substrate assimilation tests and fatty acid analysis proved useful in identifying the organism precisely.

Nosocomial infection and colonization by Klebsiella trevisanii.

During an 18-month period we identified two cases of septicemia and 24 examples of colonization of humans by Klebsiella trevisanii. Organisms were identified using the API 20EC and API 147 assimilation galleries. Of 147 clinical isolates initially identified as K. oxytoca, 18% were found to be K. trevisanii. Tracheal aspirate was the most common source of the organism. An extensive environmental sampling survey in the rooms of 12 colonized patients revealed a possible reservoir of the organism only once (a face cloth).