Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Jeffrey R. Starke Mycobacteria other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. leprae are known by several names, including nontuberculous, atypical, unclassified, environmental, and opportunistic mycobacteria. Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is…
Group A Streptococcal Infections Julia A. McMillan Ralph D. Feigin MICROBIOLOGY Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus) is a gram-positive coccus that produces clear (beta) hemolysis on blood agar. This bacteriologic…
Staphylococcal Infections Christian C. Patrick Umbereen S. Nehal Ralph D. Feigin Staphylococci are ubiquitous bacteria that colonize and are pathogenic for humans and animals. Staphylococcus aureus is the predominant pathogen…
Shigellosis Theresa J. Ochoa Thomas G. Cleary Shigellosis is the most common cause of dysentery and a leading cause of death in developing countries. It is characterized by acute febrile…
Salmonella Infections Larry K. Pickering Salmonellosis is a term that refers to infections caused by the genus Salmonella, which contains approximately 2,500 serotypes. Two broad clinical syndromes are produced by…
Rat-Bite Fever Ralph D. Feigin Mark E. Helm Rat-bite fever describes either one of two distinct clinical syndromes. Streptobacillary rat-bite fever is reported more commonly in North America, whereas spirillary…
Pseudomonas and Related Genera Ralph D. Feigin Pseudomonas species usually are strict aerobes; however, they can grow anaerobically in the presence of nitrates. Aerobic pseudomonads can use any carbon source,…
Pneumococcal Infections Ralph D. Feigin Sheldon L. Kaplan Disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children. Almost all children experience some…
