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A case of cat-scratch disease in an 8 year-old girl is reported. The inoculation injury followed by regional lymphadenopathy was typical of Parinaud syndrome. This patient also had vertebral lesions on scintigraphy, x-rays and CT scan. While the oculoglandular localization spontaneously improved within a few weeks, osteomyelitic lesions remained grossly unchanged after almost 2 years of follow-up.

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia can only be diagnosed once the microorganism is demonstrated. The authors review and illustrate various staining technics, and discuss for each of them specific advantages. All samples must by systematically examined both by phase contrast microscopy and by light microscopy after Gomori-Grocott and Gram-Weigert stains. This morphological study is completed by ultrastructural photographs.

This work reports a multicenter study of antibacterial activity of cefatiolene (RP 42 980), a new third generation cephalosporin, in comparison with cefotaxime and lamoxactam. On the basis of MIC, activity of the three products is similar or Gram negative rods, but cefotaxime is a little more active on Enterobacteriaceae. The activity against Staphylococci requires further studies, indeed the determination of IC 50 of some strains showed a better activity of cefatiolene, but this was not observed by determination of MIC. As cefotaxime and contrary to lamoxactam, cefatiolene is active at low concentrations on other Streptococci than Enterococci, but a little on Bacteroides.

We studied 64 cases of bacterial endocarditis which required heart surgery for hemodynamic defects and/or failure of the antibiotic therapy. We performed a bacteriologic and histologic investigation of the removed valves. The organisms were evidenced through culture and specific stainings. According to the different organisms we evaluated the best duration of antibiotic therapy to achieved sterilization, and suggest a helpful medical and surgical treatment for the bacterial endocarditis.

The authors draw the following conclusion on the basis of 85 cases of children hospitalised for infectious diseases : -amongst childhood infectious diseases, measles between the ages of 7 and 14 is most commonly associated with complications in the form of otitis (50 as against 19 other diseases). -Staphylococcus aureus was the dominant organism in measles otitis, but in addition to a particular affinity of this organism for measles, it is also necessary to bear in mind contamination by hospital flora, amongst which staphylococci are especially representative, in view of the late development of the otitis and the multiresistance of staphylococci isolated after the 4th day of admission. -Bacteria seen in other exanthematous fevers were more varied but if there is not rapid cure of the otitis, the generally sensitive flora is replaced by a multiresistant hospital flora, once again dominated by staphylococcus aureus and Gram negative bacilli. - The role played by such flora was seen to occur particularly on the 4th day of hospitalization, implying a twofold increase in the period of hospitalisation when compared with cases where paracentesis was performed before this time.

The authors have been interested over the last year in the detection of pneumocystis carinii in patients with immune deficiencies, whether natural or artificial. After a brief historical and general introduction, they discuss their procedures, the pathological substances available, the staining techniques and the examination of autopsy specimens. They undertook experimental work on this micro-organism, e.g. the development of the germ in immuno-depressed rats and, from this material, numerous varied trials of culture and inoculation in new-born animals, chick embryos and cell cultures. Microphotographs illustrate this work which is still in progress.

Gram-negative aerobic bacilli (Enterobacteria, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter) isolated in clinical circumstances at the microbiology of the Claude Bernard Hospital, Paris, are classified according to their resistance to the usual beta-lactam antibiotics routinely tested: ampicillin, carbenicillin, cefalotin. The MICs of mezlocillin were measured on 204 strains and compared to the results obtained with older drugs in each group.