Isolation procedures for the group B streptococci were bypassed by applying counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) directly to the broth containing the initial inoculum. A total of 458 tests were performed on 389 specimens received from 93 mothers and 81 babies. Of all tests, 19.4% were positive group B streptococci by the Lancefield precipitin method. Twenty hours of incubation were required to pr...

1. Thirteen strains of hemolytic streptococci isolated from patients with acute rheumatic fever did not show any evidence of being related serologically. 2. Strains of hemolytic streptococci exist which, although identical by the agglutination test, do not show complete reciprocal agglutinin absorption. Sera prepared from such related strains may show some protective power in mice against anoth...

The peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) method was used to demonstrate group B streptococci in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections using commercial group specific streptococcal antiserum. Sections from neonatal necropsies in which postmortem lung cultures were positive for group B streptococci showed positively stained intra- and extra-cellular cocci in the alveolar exudate. Many hyal...

The incidence of indifferent streptococci in the eyes of neonates less than 6 days old was investigated. The isolation of indifferent streptococci was significantly higher in infants with sticky eyes. Speciation using a shortened identification scheme was carried out on isolates; Streptococcus mitior and Streptococcus sanguis were the most common species in both purulent and non-infected eyes. ...

The proteinase activity of strains of group A streptococci isolated from patients in acute and convalescent phases of illness was found to be remarkably constant. Sulfadiazine therapy of patients did not affect proteinase production by the infecting streptococci. The ability to produce streptococcal proteinase would appear to be related to the strain and not necessarily to the serological type....

Parent bacteria and L-forms of some streptococci of group A, group D, and Streptococcus MG share common antigens as shown by cross-reactivity in growth inhibition, complement fixation, and Ouchterlony tests. Cross-reactivity between these streptococci or their L-forms with a staphylococcal L-form, or Mycoplasma pneumoniae, was found only rarely and only in low-titer complement fixation tests. R...

Suspensions of group A streptococci were subjected to mechanical disruption by shaking with glass beads. The supernatant solutions produced severe delayed inflammatory reactions on intradermal injection into normal rabbits. Intravenous injections caused systemic reactions characterized by fever, leucopenia, and peripheral vasomotor phenomena. These effects were more pronounced in rabbits which ...

The ability of enterococci to cause severe disease in humans and their relative resistance to chemotherapeutic agents make it desirable to rapidly differentiate these organisms from other streptococci. We developed and evaluated a test that within 2 h distinguishes enterococci from other alpha-, beta-, or nonhemolytic streptococci in a buffered solution containing 0.2% esculin and 5% sodium chl...

Skin hypersensitivity to streptococcal antigens was demonstrated in 15 New Zealand red rabbits that were sensitized by intracutaneous injections with group A streptococci, and leukocytic hypersensitivity, as determined by in vitro inhibition of leukocyte migration, was demonstrated in 11 of the rabbits. The skin hypersensitivity persisted for at least 8 weeks, whereas the leukocytic hypersensit...

A prospective study was conducted to evaluate the radiometric detection of group D and viridans streptococci in blood, using three media preparations, Bactec 6A and 6B isotonic media and 8B hypertonic medium. All enterococci tested were detected by the 6A and 6B media. However, the 6A medium failed to detect 76% of the Streptococcus bovis isolates and 57% of the viridans streptococci, whereas a...