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In a random sample of sera from a predominantly male group of hospital patients with an average age of 67, complement-fixing antibodies were found in 20 per cent to M. hominis type 1, in 16 per cent to Unknown Strain CE 5, in 1 per cent to M. pharyngis and in 2 per cent to M. pneumoniae. These percentages are lower than those reported in the literature for younger populations of patients. Thus the immunological experience with mycoplasmas (pleuropneumonia-like organisms) varies from one population to another. In general, however, the incidence of mycoplasmal infection seems to be lower in older than in younger populations. The findings also indicate that the mere isolation of these organisms from the sera of patients who manifest a disease process does not constitute evidence of an etiological relationship unless other correlates can be established.

In a study of 115 patients with chronic and acute urinary-tract infections, 26 (23 per cent) were found to have bacterial L-forms in the urine which could be cultured in a special hypertonic medium. The most common genera of bacteria producing these forms were Proteus, Pseudomonas and Escherichia-Aerobacter. Most of the patients had cystitis, pyelonephritis or a general diagnosis of “urinary-tract infection.” In a case of acute exacerbation of chronic pyelonephritis, the L-form of Proteus mirabilis appeared after eradication of the parent form with chloramphenicol. The L-form was sensitive to erythromycin even though the parent form was not, and after therapy with this antibiotic the L-form did not reappear for a ten-month period of study. L-forms occur frequently enough in the urine to warrant culturing for these forms specifically and considering the possible significance of L-forms in relation to the type of urinary-tract infection and the type of antibiotic therapy used.