Branhamella (Neisseria) catarrhalis--a lower respiratory tract pathogen?

Branhamella (Neisseria) catarrhalis was identified as a probable respiratory tract pathogen in seven patients, four with pneumonia and three with bronchitis. Five of the B. catarrhalis isolates produced beta-lactamase. Production of beta-lactamase correlated with penicillin resistance by the standardized disk diffusion method and also with high minimal inhibitory concentrations of penicillin for the two strains which were tested.