Three hundred expectorated sputa from patients suffering from chest disorders were examined microscopically and cultured on various media. Among other micro-organisms isolated there were four strains of Rhodococcus aurantiacus (Gordona aurantiaca), one each of Rh. erythropolis, Rh. pellegrino, Rh. rubropertinctus and Rh. rhodnii. Suspensions in 5% hog gastric mucin were virulent for immuno-suppressed white mice and the pathology of their lungs was compatible with those produced in experimental nocardial and rhodococcus infections. The in-vitro antibiogram was similar to that of Nocardia asteroides. Two of the patients from whom Rh. aurantiacus and Rh. pellegrino were isolated responded bacteriologically and clinically to treatment with co-trimoxazole. The frequency with which these rhodococci were isolated and the clinical conditions of the patients strongly indicated a pathogenic role for some Rhodococcus species. It is suggested that rhodococci should be sought in chronic pulmonary infections, particularly in those who are immuno-compromised or debilitated, and their aetiologic role determined.

Three hundred samples of sputum from patients suffering from various forms of pulmonary disorders were homogenized by pancreatic digestion, examined microscopically and cultured on brain heart infusion agar, trypticase soy agar, in brain heart infusion broth, trypticase soy broth and McClung's carbon-free broth. Several elements of varying morphological forms, believed to be from aerobic actinomycetes or nocardias, were observed in 16 cases. Six strains of Nocardia asteroides, one N. brasiliensis, eight of Rhodococcus species and one Micromonospora were isolated and studied at various stages of growth. Several nocardial and rhodococcal elements closely resembling those observed in the Gram-stained sputa were found. It is suggested that some of those in the sputum were from nocardias and that their appearance in sputum, as seen from the Gram-stained slide, when combined with clinical symptoms can serve for a presumptive diagnosis of pulmonary nocardiosis pending a more definitive identification by a specialized laboratory.

Summary: Sputum specimens from 100 patients with bronchopulmonary disorders were investigated for micro‐organisms of etiologic significance. Screening tests were put up for fungi. In the process, it was observed that a large number of these specimens contained species of fungi occasionally associated with bronchopulmonary diseases. Aspergillus species, mainly A. fumigatus and A. niger were isolated from 27 cases while Candida albicans grew in 20 cases. From 13 cases such fungi as Rhizopus, Mucor and other species of doubtful significance were grown. Possible implications of these findings and the role of the diagnostic laboratory in the diagnosis of fungal infections of the lung are discussed. Zusammenfassung: Sputumproben von 100 Patienten mit bronchopulmonalen Erkrankungen wurden auf ätiologisch bedeutende Mikroorganismen untersucht. Außerdem wurden Pilzkulturen angelegt. Dabei zeigte sich, daß eine große Zahl von Pilzen gefunden wurde, die gelegentlich mit bronchopulmonalen Erkrankungen in Verbindung gebracht werden. Aspergillusarten, vor allem A. fumigatus und A. niger wurden bei 27 Patienten isoliert, während Candida albicans bei 20 Fällen wuchs. Von 13 Patienten wurden Pilze wie Rhizopus, Mucor und andere Arten gezüchtet, deren Rolle unklar ist. Die möglichen Bedeutungen dieser Befunde und die Rolle des diagnostischen Laboratoriums bei der Diagnose von Lungenmykosen werden diskutiert.

Nocardia asteroides from various growth phases was treated in vitro with normal rabbit sera, immune rabbit sera containing nocardial polyclonal antibodies and a monoclonal antibody. At intervals, samples were grown in broth or on blood agar plates to determine their viability. Log and stationary phase cells were injected intra-peritoneally into female BALB/c mice and their survival rates in the liver and spleen were determined. Presensitization with antibodies reduced the viability of the log phase cells by 48% and that of the late stationary phase by 4%. The antibody-treated log phase organisms were less viable on the blood agar medium and in the spleen and liver than the control organisms. This indicates that pretreatment with antibody has a lethal effect on N. asteroides and affects its survival in vivo.