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Mixed septicemias and gastrointestinal disease

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Summary

Mixed bacterial species were recovered from blood cultures of 32 patients, of whom 21 were classified as having probable, 7 possible, and 4 improbable mixed septicemias. Those with probable mixed septicemia were characterized by a high incidence of alcoholism, hepatic and gastrointestinal disease; by a severely septic course, and high mortality rate (81%), despite vigorous antibiotic therapy. Mixed septicemia has been described most often in association with leukemia and gastrointestinal disease. Therefore the recovery of mixed bacterial species from blood cultures should alert the physician to the possible presence of such conditions.

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Author notes

  1. Edward G. Lufkin M.D.

    Present address: University of Colorado Medical Center, Denver, Colo.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. From the Infectious Disease Section, Medical Service, Veterans Administration Research Hospital and the Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Ill.

    Edward G. Lufkin M.D., Milton Silverman Ph.D., Jerome J. Callaway M.D. & Harry Glenchur M.D., Ph.D.

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  1. Edward G. Lufkin M.D.
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  2. Milton Silverman Ph.D.
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  3. Jerome J. Callaway M.D.
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  4. Harry Glenchur M.D., Ph.D.
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Lufkin, E.G., Silverman, M., Callaway, J.J. et al. Mixed septicemias and gastrointestinal disease. Digest Dis Sci 11, 930–937 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02233081

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