| Description |
Twelve cases of clinically diagnosed "bacterial allergy" were studied to determine the bacterial flora of the nasopharynx and of the urinary tract. A comparison of the types of bacteria formed in nasopharyngeal secretions and in the urine was made. It was found that in the majority of cases the same types of organisms existed in samples from both the nasopharynx and urine. Micrococcus albus was the organism found most frequently in both nasopharyngeal secretions and urine. This organism was present in all of the nasopharyngeal specimens and in 75% of the urine samples studied. Other bacteria found, in the order of frequency, were Gram-positive Diplococcus, beta hemolytic Streptococcus, diphtheroids, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Micrococcus aureaus, and diphtheroids are the only organisms found. Various immunological tests were conducted to aid in the identification and correlation of the organisms found. These tests included agglutination, complement fixation, and direct skin testing. Of the above mentioned tests, direct skin testing gave the most significant results. This was probably due to the fact that circulating antibodies to bacterial antigens did not exist. This work supports the assumption that when a chronic infection exists in the nasopharynx, a periodic slight bacteremia may occur. The glomeruli of the kidneys, in turn, filter the bacteria into th eurinary system where foci or infection are established. |
