[Identification of Mycobacterium rhodochrous as the causative agent of pericarditis in a small child]

In a child aged 2 5/12 years with a suppurating pericarditis mycobacterium rhodochrous was grown from a blood culture and was regarded as the causative organism of the disease. By means of chemotherapy and surgical measures we succeeded in a complete cure of the process without complications. The problems of microbiological diagnostics, particularly of the taxonomic differentiation of these causative organisms as well the therapy of the infections produced by them are discussed.