Article

Anaerobic pathogenesis: collagenase production by Peptostreptococcus magnus and its relationship to site of infection.

Surgical Microbiology Research Laboratory, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226.
The Journal of Infectious Diseases (impact factor: 6.41). 06/1991; 163(5):1148-50. pp.1148-50
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Fifty isolates of Peptostreptococcus magnus from intraabdominal sepsis, nonpuerperal breast abscess, and diabetic foot infections were examined for collagenase activity using bovine type I collagen. Collagenase production was detected in a higher percentage of strains from nonpuerperal breast and diabetic foot specimens (P less than .001). This enzyme may be responsible for P. magnus playing a more central role in the pathogenesis of nonpuerperal breast abscess and diabetic foot disease than in intraabdominal sepsis.

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