Mycoses of the mouth and nearby areas can be caused by both yeasts and filamentous fungi. They may appear either independently or as part of a systemic infection. It is typical of many mycoses that they occur as a consequence of local factors operating in the mouth, or in patients debilitated by severe diseases. Yeasts that are part of the normal microbial flora of man, among them especially Candida species, are the most frequent causative agents. Some tropical or semitropical infections may occur in Scandinavia and Finland, but they are rare. Local therapy with antimycotics is often effective in acute infections, whereas some chronic ones may make systemic administration necessary. Some of these infections are treated surgically.

No abstract

25 J AHLQVIST, MD, head turia. The fungus was sensitive to ketoconazole, and treatment with this drug cured the infection. With the introduction of ketoconazole it is of practical importance to recognise fungal infections.

Aeromonas species were isolated from 249/13,027 (1.9%) stool samples submitted to the Dept. of Bacteriology and Immunology, University of Helsinki, during 1 year, to be cultured for bacterial enteropathogens. Aeromonas was the third most common enteropathogen isolated, after campylobacter (3.6%) and salmonella (3.3%). Isolates and clinical information from 234 Aeromonas patients were available for further study. A. caviae (41%), A. hydrophila (27%), and A. veronii biovar sobria (22%) were the most frequent isolates. In 15% of the patients, other enteropathogens were found along with aeromonas. Only 2% of all aeromonas-positive patients were found to be asymptomatic, whereas no aeromonas isolates were detected in the stools of 343 asymptomatic individuals. Almost all (96%) patients with aeromonas in their feces had gastroenteritis. Patients infected with A. veronii biovar sobria had a shorter illness course and had more often travelled abroad. In conclusion, Aeromonas spp. were found to be a potential cause of diarrhea in Finnish patients.

Abstract. Endemic areas of coccidioidomycosis are described. The mycology of Coccidioides immitis is reviewed, with special reference to the risk of laboratory infection. A classification of coccidioidomycosis is listed and two cases from Finland are presented. The first patient had typical X‐ray and clinical findings, including a positive coccidioidin test. The second case, occurring soon after a visit to Arizona, was confirmed by positive fungal cultures from the sputum and from a resected specimen. Because the latter patient became pregnant and the risk of dissemination was considered great, legal abortion was performed. The resection of the pulmonary cavitation with infiltration around it took place under coverage of pre‐ and postoperative amphotericin B medication. Complete recovery was obtained. The indications for thoracic surgery are briefly listed. Diagnostic and mycologic aspects of this rare and exotic disease are discussed. Among other things, the importance of a good medical history in finding the contact with infective environment or material is stressed.