Staphylococcus aureus

T o the Edi tor : In the self-assessment quiz in the January 1985 issue of Diseases ol the Colon r Rectum, there is a microbiologic error. Staphylococcus aureus is not the commonest infecting organism in hidradenitis suppurativa. As long ago as 1951, Greely ~ suggested that anaerobes might be involved in view of the putr id discharge noticed by these patients. In 1979, Leach et alY convincingly demonstrated that Greely was correct and that anaerobes, predominant ly anaerobic cocci, black-pigmenting Bacteroides spp and B. Corrodens (now correctly B. ureolyticus) were nearly always present with Streptococcus miUeri. Experience at St. Thom as ' Hospital London, UK, since the latter paper was written, has confirmed these findings in many more cases. Hidradenitis suppurativa involves secondary infection of blocked aprocrine glands with anaerobes; it is not a staphylococcal infection. We would very much hope that, in l ight of this information, you would consider publishing a correction to the answers to your quiz.