The efficacy of high-dose penicillin for community-acquired pneumonia diagnosed by pneumococcal urine antigen test.
We analyzed the efficacy of both the Streptococcus pneumoniae urine antigen test as a quick diagnostic tool and the administration of high-dose penicillin in response to a positive S. pneumoniae urine antigen test. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 48 cases of pneumococcal pneumonia, in which the patients were treated with high-dose penicillin. All the cases were diagnosed by a positive urine antigen test. Treatment with high-dose penicillin was effective in 43 of the 48 patients. This treatment was also effective in 12 of 16 culture-confirmed cases with low susceptibility to penicillin. Eleven patients who were positive for the S. pneumoniae urine antigen test but culture-negative showed clinical improvement with high-dose penicillin. Pneumonia caused by S. pneumoniae appeared to be treated safely and effectively with high-dose penicillin based on positive results of the urine antigen test, as penicillin resistance was unlikely to be a problem.
Oka
Hideaki
H
Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan. hide-oka0214@kkh.biglobe.ne.jp
Ueda
Atsuhisa
A
Watanuki
Yuji
Y
Tsukiji
Jun
J
Kuroda
Hideyo
H
Akashi
Syunsuke
S
Hirai
Yoshihiro
Y
Fuyuki
Toshiharu
T
Kaneko
Takeshi
T
Ishigatsubo
Yoshiaki
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000652:urine*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010406:Penicillins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011018:Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D010406:Penicillins