202 MEDICAL BACTERIOLOGY 



FURUNCULOSIS AND CARBUNCLES 



Furunculosis and carbuncles are commonly caused by staphylococci, some- 

 times by streptococci, rarely by other organisms. To make a bacteriological 

 diagnosis obtain material as when examining pimples, plant slant tubes of agar 

 and blood serum and incubate aerobically at 37C. for 24 to 48 hours. Also 

 make slides, stain with methylene blue and by Gram's method. 



PHLEGMONA D1FFUSA 



After cleaning the surface where the superficial skin is unbroken, and over- 

 lying pus or serum exudate, incise, remove several loops full of pus or serum and 

 plant on agar and blood serum and incubate at 37C. for 24 to 48 hours. Make 

 slides for microscopic examination. 



ERYSIPELAS 



The streptococcus is looked upon as the sole cause of erysipelas, not every 

 attempt to obtain it from the skin lesions succeeds. Clean the surface and 

 attempt to withdraw fluid from the deep layer of the skin and subcutaneous 

 tissues. Plant it on agar and blood serum and incubate at 37C. for 24 hours. 

 Make slides. 



Search for enlarged glands adjacent to the diseased area, if found, massage, 

 clean overlying skin aspirate some of the contents with a syringe. Culture 

 and make slides from material so obtained. 



MALIGNANT PUSTULE 



Malignant pustule is caused by the anthrax bacillus. Clean the surrounding 

 skin and overlying tissue, incise and obtain some serum. Plant on agar and 

 blood serum and make slides for microscopic examination. 



Withdraw urine with catheter, centrifuge and make cultures and slides from 

 the sediment. 



Withdraw 2 cc. of blood from a vein with a sterile syringe, smear several 

 drops over the surface of each of several tubes of agar and blood serum and in- 

 cubate at 37C. for 24 to 72 hours. Make smears from the blood and stain for 

 microscopic examination. The anthrax bacillus will only be found in the blood 

 and urine when the disease has passed beyond the initial or local lesion on the 

 skin and has entered the circulation. 



FARCY (GLANDERS) 



Glanders, or Farcy, as the superficial form of the disease is known, is caused 

 by the bacillus mallei, other organisms, as staphylococci frequently contaminate 

 superficial lesions, especially if open and exposed to the air. 



Obtain pus or scraping from a lesion and plant on glycerin agar, blood serum 

 and potato and incubate aerobically at 37C. for 24 to 72 hours, also make 

 slides and stain. 



