BACILLUS PYOCYANEUS IN CHILDREN

The early idea that Bacillus pyocyaneus was a harmless secondary invader was dispelled long ago by numerous clinicians, pathologists and bacteriologists, who clearly demonstrated its pathogenic properties. It is an established fact that this chromogenic organism is not only the cause of localized suppurative processes, but is often the sole agent of systemic infection and fatal septicemias. Isolation of this organism from the circulation during life and positive culture of the heart blood post mortem substantiate its pathogenic nature. While the pathogenicity of B. pyocyaneus is comparatively slight in adults, it may be particularly virulent in children, especially in infants. Franenkel,¹ who published three classic monographs on infection due to B. pyocyaneus, made bacteriologic and pathologic investigation in twenty-six fatal cases, twenty-one of which were in children below the age of 2 years. Before we report a rapidly fatal case of septicemia due to B. pyocyaneus in a child,