Pathogenic Lactobacilli

Abstract

SUMMARY Lactobacilli are generally not thought of as pathogenic, except in dental caries. Seven strains of lactobacilli obtained from various clinical conditions were fully investigated. They were identified as four strains of L. casei var. rhaninosus, two strains of L. piantarum and one strain of the subgenus Thermo-bacterium, which could not be further identified. Some of these strains were believed to play a pathogenic role. In three cases the lactobacilli were repeatedly isolated from blood cultures taken during life; all these proved to be L. casei var. rhamnosus.