Aberrant form of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in sputum and cerebrospinal fluid causing infection in a compromised patient.

Abstract

A patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma developed meningitis due to an aberrant form of Pseudomonas aeruginosa observed on Gram stain. The organism was grown on primary isolation media without needing hypertonic media. The significance of aberrant forms in body fluids is discussed.

Abnormal morphology of bacteria in the cerebrospinal fluid of a patient on antibiotics

“…[3][4][5] The presence of such abnormal bacterial forms in the specimen of the patient, rather than in the culture of the specimen has clinical signiÞ cance. Their presence may indicate a sub lethal antibiotic concentration at the site of infection resulting from a low dose of antibiotic or intermittent, possibly unsuspected antibiotic therapy.…”

Abnormal morphology of bacteria in the sputa of patients treated with antibiotics

“…"Bizarre" forms of E. coli were observed in the spinal fluid of a child who was treated with antibiotics (11). Filaments of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were observed in the sputum as well as in the spinal fluid of a patient who was treated with carbenicillin (12). The presence of abnormal forms of bacteria in the specimen of a patient, rather than in the culture of a specimen, has clinical significance; these abnormal forms have an abnormal susceptibility to defense mechanisms (7, 13) and are indicative of low antibiotic concentrations at the site of infection.…”