1072 SOCIÉTÉ DE BIOLOGIE 



Techmcal note : Preliminary Communication on the Use of a simple 

 Médium for the early Identification of Streptococci and certain 



ANAEROBIC BaCTERIA PRESENT IN WOUNDS, 



par B. Jablons et M. Pease. 



I. Introduction. Ofall the bacteria occurring in war wounds the 



Streptococcus is the most important, at least among those classed as 

 aerobes. It is a universally accepted fact at the présent time that no 

 wound may be safely and successfully closed that contains hœmolytic 

 Streptococci, even Ihough they are présent in small numbers. If thèse 

 conclusions are accepted as to wounds infected with Streptococci, it 

 becomes at once self évident that the early détermination of the pré- 

 sence or absence of streptococci is of great practical importance in 

 wound bacteriology, for upon this détermination the surgeon must 

 base his actions, in respect to closure or subséquent treatment of ail 

 wounds that come under his care. 



Recognizing the importance of the earliest possible détermination of 

 the présence or absence of Streptococci in wounds, many média hâve 

 been devised. ïissier contented himself with a plain infusion broth 

 which was slightly acid, depending upon a précipitation of Ihe Strep- 

 tococci inlo llie botlom of the tube in breud-crumb-like masses for his 

 diagnosis. lie claims that this phenomenon will take place in about 

 six hours. Levaditi used sérum broth, depending for his diagnosis 

 upon the forming of chainsof cocci in about twelve hours. Weissenbach 

 suggested a médium consisting of an alkaline egg albumin glucose 

 peptone water which, when seeded with wound exsudate containing 

 Streptococci, shows lypical chains of cocci in about six hours. The 

 objection to Ihe use of Weissenbach's médium lies in the difficulty of its 

 préparation and in the fact that Streptococci grow more rapidly only 

 when it is f/'eshly prepared, so that quanlity préparation tends to defeat 

 the very object for which the médium was devised. 



We hâve not been able to confirm Tissier's findings as far as broth 

 was concerned. Etherized blood broth médium seeded with Strepto- 

 cocci cultures shows an appréciable cloud in about six hours, the chains 

 of Streptococci being quicldy precipitated however with the albumin of 

 the médium as acid forms. Thèse média often fail to conserve the 

 commonly encountered sporulating anaerobic* Bacilli, as well as the 

 occasional strictly anaerobic Streptococci met with in wounds. In an 

 effort to devise a médium which would obviate thèse difficulties we 

 began to use various types of méat in ordinary peptone water. Our 

 results were variable, giving at times a remarkable growth of Strepto- 

 cocci, and al others only a feeble growth which led to much experi- 



