A three-year study of positive blood cultures, with emphasis on prognosis.

A study of 37,156 blood cultures over a 3-year period yielded 1,972 positive blood culture episodes, of which 63% were of clinical significance, 26% represented contamination, 7% represented transient bacteremia, and 3% were of indeterminate significance. Mortality curves were calculated for clinically significant bacteremia according to etiologic organism and source. Several curves with different shapes were demonstrated.

Nonvalue of antigen detection immunoassays for diagnosis of candidemia.

We evaluated the Cand-Tec (Ramco Laboratories Inc., Houston, Tex.) and LA-Candida antigen detection system (Immuno-Mycologics Inc.

Clinical comparison of isolator and BACTEC 660 resin media for blood culture.

The 10-ml Isolator system (E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co.

Enterobacter agglomerans: the clinically important plant pathogen.

During a 5-month period Enterobacter agglomerans, now described as a member of the phytopathogenic genus Erwinia, was isolated from 13 patients in a general hospital; in 1 patient it was isolated from two sites. In six instances the organism was the sole pathogen isolated, in two instances it may have contributed to infection and in the remaining instances it was probably a transient saprophyte. The strains showed some variation in biochemical reactions but were similar in colonial morphology and were consistently sensitive to several antibiotics.

Chronic subphrenic abscess: the missed diagnosis.

This report of a case of chronic subphrenic abscess, with a brief review and recommendations for diagnosis and prevention, draws attention to this clinical entity as a potential cause of chronic ill health. The clinical presentation and laboratory findings in this case were unremarkable. It is clear that the condition can be easily missed and the patient may be exposed unnecessarily to prolonged illness and to inappropriate investigation and therapy.