1 Dept of Pediatrics, Section of Infectious Diseases, The Ohio State University, College of Medicine, Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205
Although Bacillus species are infrequent causes of human infections, they are known to be responsible for bacteremia without focus, catheter-related bacteremia, endocarditis, endophthalmitis, cerebral spinal fluid shunt infection, meningitis, pneumonia, food poisoning, and wound infections. Feder et al recently reported their experience at Hartford Hospital from 1968 through 1985 with cerebral spinal fluid cultures positive for Bacillus species. Because Bacillus/ species have variable antibiotic susceptibilities, they correctly suggest the performance of susceptibility testing in settings where the isolate is considered to be clinically relevant.