A PSEUDOMYCOSIS DUE TO A COCCUS: MICROCOCCUS MYCETICUS

Abstract

In certain peculiar conditions clinically resembling a mycosis but microscopically and culturally negative with regard to fungi, I have observed a somewhat peculiar coccus which seems to be the true etiologic agent. It may be of advantage to give first a brief description of the organism. CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES Morphologic and Staining Characteristics.— This coccus at times morphologically resembles the gonococcus, at times an ordinary streptococcus. When certain strains are recently isolated, they are practically gram-negative, but after subculturing they usually become gram-positive. Cultivation and Isolation from the Lesions.— Absence of Growth on Ordinary Agar When Inoculated Direct from the Lesions: The isolation of the organism is rather difficult, as the organism does not grow at first on ordinary agar; agar tubes inoculated with pus direct from the lesions do not show any growth; it grows on certain special mediums, the best apparently being creatinine and uric acid agar, but even