Eight strains of Pseudomonas putrefaciens were isolated from exudate of the rectum (1), feces (1), urine (3), discharge of the ear (1) and bile (2) and were examined for their growth characteristics, biochemical properties, base compositions of DNAs and antibiotic susceptibility.
All of the strains were cytochrome oxidase positive, strongly H₂S-producing and not fermenting glucose, saccharose and lactose. They grew on TCBS agar medium which has not been used for Pseudomonas. From these findings, preliminaly identification of P. putrefaciens can be made for Gram-negative rods that are capable to grow on TSI agar with production of H₂S but no acid and to grow on TCBS agar medium.
GC-contents of the DNAs of the isolated organisms were either 47.3, 53.1 and 54.0%. From growth characteristics, 47.3% GC strains were suggested to belong to Group III of Owens' typing and others to Group IV.
The strains were sensitive for many antibiotics, while the susceptibility to penicillins was varied depending on the growth temperature (35 and 25°C).

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The virulence of 40 clinical isolates of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus was studied by means of an experimental infection model in mice. The therapeutic efficacy of antibiotic treatment and the responses to nonspecific defense mechanisms were concurrently investigated. The LD₅₀ value (cells/mouse) of A. calcoaceticus inoculated i. p. with mucin was>10⁶ cells/mouse for. about 60% of the strains and ≤10⁶ cells/mouse for the remaining 40%, with 15% of the latter strains being highly virulent (LD₅₀: 10³-10⁵ cells/mouse). LD₅₀ values derived by i. p. or i. v. inoculation without mucin were considerably lower than when mucin was concomitantly used. Tests on the therapeutic efficacy of antibiotics in the treatment of experimental i.p. infections revealed that tetracyclines, aminoglycosides and peptides, compounds which were highly active in vitro, were likewise very effective in vivo. The response to nonspecific defense mechanisms was investigated by testing the influence of serum and phagocytosis by polymorphonuclear neutrophils. Virulent strains were resistant to both effects.

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Heat-treated Acinetobacter calcoaceticus was used to prepare antiserum. The protective effects involving homologous and heterologous organisms was investigated for the resulting antiserum and vaccine. The antibody titer (agglutination titer) of rabbit antiserum obtained by immunization with the organism was 1/256 to ≥1/1024. Tests on the protective effects by this antiserum revealed opsonic activity which was effective against infections with homologous strains and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The antiserum was, however, ineffective against Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens infections. The protective effect by a vaccine prepared from heat-treated organisms was similarly tested in mice. The vaccine was effective against homologous strain and P. aeruginosa infections and ineffective against E. coli and S. marcescens infections.

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Cl. difficile and Kl. oxytoca were isolated from stool of a patient with ampicillin-induced pseudomembranous colitis. The toxin of this Cl. difficile strain lacked cytotoxicity but showed positive ileal loop test. Hyperemic ceceitis was produced by inoculating the isolated Cl. difficile strain into hamster's cecum. Inoculation of the isolated Kl. oxytoca failed to produce ceceitis in the hamster. Simultaneous inoculation of the Cl. difficile and the Kl. oxytoca strains did not show any synergic effect in producing the hyperemic inflammation of the bowel in hamster.

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The total of 154 school children of the first to third grades of primary school was followed up for the period of May 1973-December 1975. During the period of investigation the subjects were throat cultured 10 times on their carrier state of streptococci and bleed 2 times, and the correlation between carrier state and T-antibody were analized.
The results obtained were as follows:
1) The total of 417 strains of streptococci were isolated from the children and T-1, T-4, T-6 and T-12 occupied 67.1% of the total and 83.8% of group A. And the most prevalent T-type was different according to season and year.
2) T-antibody score and ASO titer were not correlated.
3) The paired sera from the children in November 1973 and December 1975 were tested on T-antibody against T-1, T-4, T-6, T-12, T-25, T-28 and T-Impetigol9. There was observed no positive reactors against the latter three types, which were not isolated during the investigation, suggesting the specificity of T-antibody.
4) The positive-converted cases in T-4 antibody during the period of investigation showed higher positive rate of carrier state of T-4 per case compared to the negative-converted cases and sero-negative cases. However, it was estimated that there must be unrecognized carrier state even among the positive-converted, suggesting usefulness of T-antibody as an epidemiological tool more than the throat culture.

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Between June 1976 and March 1978, 13 cases (9 patients and 4 nurses) in an institution for mentally retarded children developed hepatitis B.
A survey done in Aug. 1978 revealed that 7 of 77 patients (9.1%) were positive in HBsAg and 13 (16.9%) in and-HBs, and 45 of 73 patients (61.6%) were positive in and-HBc.
In 11 of 13 cases with hepatitis B, clinical course was transient and 9 developed jaundice.
Four patients (2 males, 14 and 17 years old; 2 females, 12 and 15 years old) became HBV carriers in this outbreak.
HBsAg was detected in saliva from 7 patients with HBsAg in sera, and the fact indicates that HBsAg positive saliva is probably a vehcle inthe spread of HBV.

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We studied by trastracheal aspiration (TTA) the relationship between lower respiratory tract infections and normal upper airway flora. This was done by comparing the organisms obtained by TTA with these in the sputum in 58 patients with lower respiratory tract infection. In some patients, the organisms obtained by TTA were not identical with those in the sputum. In 23% of cases with chronic lower airway infection, organisms by TTA were not identical in the organisms in the sputum. We identified altogether 19 species of organisms in TTA and 23 species in sputum. By TTA, We identified 2 or more organisms in 54% cases
Organisms identified as follows; H. influenzae (48%), S. pneumoniae (38%), B. catarrhalis (15%) and H. parainfluenzae (15%) by TTA and a-streptococcus (65%), nonpathogenic Nisseria (70%), H. influenzae (24%) and S. pneumoniae (28%) in sputum.
In 90% of the cases with chronic lower airway infections, we identified the above organisms by TTA and in some cases we repeatedly cultured the same organisms, from the same patients.
From the results we realize that the organisms of upper airway flora go through readily into lower airway. Particularly, by chronic infections of lower airway, invaders seem to be settled at the location of lower part, and produce bacterial colonies. Thus, in the chronic infectious diseases of the lower airway, the organisms that live always in upper airway could play an important role on it.

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To learn more about the efficacy of Ara-A treatment of HSV encephalitis in our country, we conducted a historical comparative study of 150 patients admitted to the reliable hospitals because of suspected disease.
In 106 cases of HSV encephalitis proved by clinico-serological findings, Ara-A treatment reduced cummurative mortality at the 90th day of observation from 33 to 8 per cent (p<0.05) and 80 per cent of treated survivors had no or only moderately debiliating residual damages. This improvement was achieved without evidence of acute drug toxicity.
The prognosis was markedly influenced by the day of illness when the patient was started on Ara-A treatment among several factors other than drug. Therefore, the need for rapid and accurate diagnosis in suspected encephalitis must be emphasized.

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We have recently experienced two cases with carditis complicated with. Mycoplasma Pneumoniae (M. Pn.) infection.
Case 1. A 38 year-old male. He had fever and coughed for 9 days prior to admission. At that time, infiltrations of the right lower lung field were revealed on his chest X-ray films. The cold agglutinin test was 1: 8 on the day of admission and then after 6 days it rose to 1: 2048. Antibody titer to M. Pn. were 1: 64 on the 6th hospital day and it elevated to 1: 4096 on the 13 days after admission. An electrocardiogram on his admission showed atrial fibrillation (A.f.) and ventricular premature contraction (VPC). On the 2nd hospital day A.f. was disappeared but VPC was seen for 6 weeks after admission, and an aggravation was noted in ECG in exercise. Based upon the above findings, this patient was diagnosed M.Pn. myocarditis.
Case 2. 78 year-old male. He was admitted to our hospital because of high fever. Titer of cold agglutinin was 1: 8 on the day of admission and it increased to 1: 256 on 23 days later. Antibody titer to M. Pn. was 1: 16 on his admission and then it rose to 1: 128 on 11 days later. On the 5th hospital day A.f. was appeared and the cardiac shadow was enlarged. The echocardiogram showed pericardial effusion. A diagnosis of M.Pn. pericarditis was made.
As above two cases of carditis complicated by M.Pn. have been reported.

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