Nonfermentative bacilli associated with man. 3. Pathogenicity and antibiotic susceptibility.

Abstract

As it is now possible as well as practical to identify nearly all nonfermentative Gram-negative bacilli recovered from clinical material, 565 strains of these bacteria were studied in respect to four features: incidence, distribution, potential pathogenicity, and antibiotic susceptibility. Four species, previously known to be opportunistic pathogens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. maltophilia, Acinetobacter anitratus (Herellea vaginicola) , and A. Iwoffi (Mima polymorpha) , were the most commonly encountered. P. pseudoalcaligenes and P. fluorescens were also frequently encountered. Seven species of questionable pathogenicity were less common; these were P. stutzeri, P. acidovorans, P. putida, P. alcaligenes, P. multivorans, P. diminuta , and Chromobacterium typhiflavum. Bordetella bronchiseptica and Xanthomonas species, occasionally encountered, appeared to be nonpathogenic for man. Three of the five species of Moraxella associated with man were encountered: M. nonliquefaciens, M. osloensis , and M. phenylpyrouvica . Only one strain of Alcaligenes faecalis , of doubtful pathogenicity, was found. Some strains of A. odorans were pathogenic. Most strains of flavobacteria were not clinically significant; none of these corresponded biochemically to King's Flavobacterium meningosepticum .