title: The bacteriology of chronic destructive pneumonia.
abstract: Thirty-four patients with chronic destructive pneumonia (CDP) were investigated bacteriologically and mycologically; specimens were obtained by transtracheal aspiration, percutaneous lung puncture, and open lung biopsy. Anaerobes were isolated in the absence of aerobes in 1 case while specimens from 9 patients yielded aerobes only. In 16 patients both groups of organisms were cultured. Streptococcus viridans was isolated in 12 cases and fungi in 2 cases. Specimens from 8 patients were sterile on culture. All patients had been treated with various antibiotic combinations before specimens were taken. Aerobes, particularly Gram-positive cocci, and anaerobes probably play an important synergistic role in the pathogenesis of CDP.
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D044383:Black People; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000382:microbiology*; D013019:South Africa