Bacillus cereus Osteomyelitis

To the Editor.— While organisms of the genus Bacillus, with the exception ofanthracis, are considered rare causes of human disease, they have been implicated in episodes of food poisoning in many European countries. But when isolated from clinical specimens, even blood cultures, they have been considered to be either saprophytes or contaminants. However, as described by Farrar1and Ihde and Armstrong,2under certain circumstances bothB subtilisand Bcereusmay be important organisms in human disease. We report a case of verifiedB cereusosteomyelitis in a patient with sickle cell-thalassemia anemia. Report of a Case.— A 43-year-old black man was admitted to the New York Hospital for evaluation of fever, low back pain, and a right lower lobe infiltrate. His past history included sickle cell-thalassemia anemia, heroin addiction, alcohol abuse, hepatitis, and multiple pulmonary emboli. He was well, however, until eight days prior to admission,