Fatal pulmonary infection associated with a novel organism, "para-streptomyces abscessus".

Actinomycetes are increasingly recognized as pathogenic in the immunocompromised host. We isolated an asporogenous, nonmotile, aerobic gram-positive rod from a transplant recipient with a fatal pulmonary infection. The pathology was similar to that associated with Rhodococcus equi, including intra-histiocytic localization.

Six rapid tests for direct detection of Clostridium difficile and its toxins in fecal samples compared with the fibroblast cytotoxicity assay.

Clostridium difficile is one of the most frequent causes of nosocomial gastrointestinal disease. Risk factors include prior antibiotic therapy, bowel surgery, and the immunocompromised state. Direct fecal analysis for C.