Isolation of Pleuropneumonia-like Organisms from Pathological Specimens with the Aid of Penicillin.

Abstract

Penicillin is of considerable help in isolating pleuropneumonia-like organisms from specimens contaminated with bacteria. Penicillin alters the colonies of certain bacteria in such a manner that they become indistinguishable from pleuropneumonia-like organisms. Furthermore, penicillin may induce the growth of pleuropneumonia-like organisms from bacteria. To prove that these organisms are present in the specimens, the characteristic colonies must be apparent in the cultures also without the use of penicillin.