Cantwell A R
Growth. 1981 Summer;45(2):79-89.
Skin biopsy specimens from 3 consecutive patients with lesions of Kaposi's sarcoma limited to the skin were cultured for bacteria, and also examined histopathologically for the presence of acid-fast wall deficient (CWD) bacteria. Corynebacterium sp and Propionibacterium acnes were isolated from two repeated cultures from the first case. Both Staphylococcus epidermidis and Streptococcus viridans were isolated from the second case. Bacteriologic culture of the third case was negative. Utilizing the Intensified Kinyoun stain for the detection of acid-fast CWD bacteria, variably acid-fast coccoid forms were visualized in the tissue sections from two cases. In one case, the Gram strain revealed similar forms. Newer knowledge linking CWD bacterial forms of staphylococci, streptococci, and corynebacteria-like microbes to cryptic infection of human blood is discussed, as well as the possible role of CWD bacteria in the pathogenesis of malignancy. This study suggests that CWD microbes might play a role in the pathogenesis of Kaposi's sarcoma, and that the presence of microbes might be detected by bacteriologic culture of KS lesions, and acid-fast histologic staining of skin biopsy specimens.
对3例皮肤病变局限于皮肤的卡波西肉瘤患者的皮肤活检标本进行细菌培养，并进行组织病理学检查，以确定是否存在抗酸细胞壁缺陷（CWD）细菌。从第一例患者的两次重复培养中分离出棒状杆菌属和痤疮丙酸杆菌。从第二例患者中分离出表皮葡萄球菌和草绿色链球菌。第三例患者的细菌培养结果为阴性。利用改良金胺O染色法检测抗酸CWD细菌，在两例患者的组织切片中可见不同程度的抗酸性球菌形态。在一例患者中，革兰氏染色显示出类似形态。讨论了将葡萄球菌、链球菌和类棒状杆菌的CWD细菌形式与人类血液隐性感染联系起来的新知识，以及CWD细菌在恶性肿瘤发病机制中的可能作用。本研究表明，CWD微生物可能在卡波西肉瘤的发病机制中起作用，并且通过对KS病变进行细菌培养和皮肤活检标本的抗酸组织学染色可能检测到微生物的存在。
