On Slow Lactose Fermenting<i>B. Coli</i>in Urinary and Intestinal Infections

Abstract

(a) The slow lactose fermenting bacilli which we have investigated cause an acute febrile illness in man. The general symptoms may be so severe that the diagnosis of typhoid and paratyphoid fever has been made. Such cases are invariably due to an acute infection of the urinary tract, more specially acute pyelitis or pyelo-nephritis, but the general symptoms may be so severe at the onset of the illness that the urinary manifestations are masked. (b) Three fatal cases have occurred. (c) In cases of acute diarrhoea, with or without blood and mucus, these bacilli may be present in pure culture in the faeces. (d) Chronic urinary infections due to these bacilli are uncommon. (e) The bacillus of so-called columbensis fever is allied to these bacilli.