Pneumococcal antigen in pneumonia. A post-mortem study with the histological and bacteriological findings.
Pneumococcal capsular antigens can be detected in lung tissue by counter-current immunoelectrophoresis even when, following antibiotics, post-mortem bacterilogy suggests that Escherichia coli has replaced pneumococci. The results suggest that antipneumococcal therapy would benefit at least 55% of patients critically ill with lung infection and that the potentially toxic drugs directed at coliform bacteria may be unnecessary.
D000368:Aged; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D003378:Counterimmunoelectrophoresis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000382:microbiology*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial