The Differentiation of Coliform Organisms Infecting the Urinary Tract

In the study of the bacteriology of water it is customary to divide the coliform organisms into several species and subspecies, and the practical value of this subdivision is well proved. In the clinical laboratory the detailed investigation of such strains from urinary infections is not generally practicable. The work reported here suggests that differentiation into species in this manner is both practicable and productive of valuable clinical infor-mation. A high incidence of Bact. aerogentes strains in infections of paralysed bladders of paraplegic patients was found by Warner (1948) and a similar incidence in obstructive conditions of the urinary tract was reported by CoJeman and Taylor (1949): the Bact. aerogenies strains in each series were more