>Rhodococcus equi is what I was actually thinking of. It causes infections
>in immunocompromised patients, and is a gram positive rod, so it fits the
>profile of what was described. Why its called Rhodococcus when it is a rod
>I have no idea. I think it makes a red pigment, but I couldn't actually
>verify that.
>>Glen Tamura
>
Rhodococci undergo a series of morphologic changes during their growth,
starting off (usually) as small cocci and growing thorugh rods, to branched
rods and then in some cases to extensively branched hyphae. Their Gram
stain appearance all depends on the stage they were up to when prepared. I
spent months trying to purify a culture, only to learn that it was a
Rhodococcus and wass already pure!
Red pigments are produced in some strains, but pretty much anything in the
red-yellow -orange family can be found. Why not do some quick 16S rDNA
sequncing????
I doubt, however, that a Rhodococcus would be found on all those hands, or
on the soap, or in the water supply, but I can't offer any suggestions..
Good luck
Paul
-----------------------------------------
Paul Taylor
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
University of Melbourne
Parkville Victoria 3052
AUSTRALIA
Ph : (03) 9344 5698
fax : (03) 9347 1540
email : taylorpm at ariel.unimelb.edu.au
