title: Protective effect of prophylactic penicillin on splenectomized mice exposed to an aerosolized suspension of type III Streptococcus pneumoniae.
abstract: Prophylactic penicillin has been recommended for use in asplenic patients and postsplenectomy patients. A laboratory model using aerosolized pneumococci has been devised to test the effectiveness of prophylactic penicillin in a manner analogous to human experience. There is increased mortality, over time, in asplenic mice exposed to aerosolized type III Streptococcus pneumoniae. One hundred twenty-one male Swiss mice (mean weight 26 g) were divided into four groups: splenectomized, sham-operated, splenectomized + penicillin, and sham-operated + penicillin. After 2 wk the four groups were exposed for 30 min to an aerosolized atmosphere of 2.4 x 10(9) colony-forming units of type III S. pneumoniae using a Tri-R model A-42 airborne infection apparatus. Penicillin was given at a daily intramuscular dosage of 40,000 units procaine penicillin G beginning 2 days prior to exposure and continuing through the third day after exposure. The splenectomized and sham-operated mice given penicillin showed significantly lower mortality (p less than 0.001) than mice not given penicillin.
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013156:Splenectomy
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D010400:Penicillin G