Van Den Berg, Alan2019-02-142019-02-141993-10https://hdl.handle.net/10539/26410A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, for degree of Master of Science in Medicine.Analysis of organisms involved in hospital infections has shown that Gram -positive bacteria have assumed an increasingly important role. Examples that have been recognised as important pathogens are staphylococci,enterococci, streptococci, Corynebacterium jeikeium and Leuconostoc species. Methicillin resistance in staphylococci has become a major problem in certain hospitals. Viridans streptococci continue to be the most frequent cause of native valve endocarditis. Leuconostoc species are being increasingly isolated from blood culture specimens.enThesis