“BACILLUS MUCOSUS CAPSULATUS” IN INFANTILE DIARRHEA 1

Abstract

-[long dash]A Gram-negative, non-motile, capsulated rod giving mucoid growth on SS agar, non-typable in Friedlander A or B antiserum, and giving V.P., M.R., citrate, and lactose reactions of a typical Aerobacter aerogenes was recovered in large numbers by anal swab from 22 of 24 infants in a children''s home. 18 of the 22 infants had concomitant diarrhea, and cultures from these became negative during convalescence. Homologous agglutinins and precipitins were sought, but not found, in 5 of the infants. In a separate survey, Friedlander''s bacillus was recovered from 18 of 571 (3%) children with evidence of diarrhea.