Yersinia pestis Infection in Vietnam. I. Clinical and Hematologic Aspects

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In 22 Vietnamese patients with fever and bubo, Yersinia pestis infection was diagnosed by positive culture or serologic response. All strains of Y. pestis except one isolated from these patients were susceptible to most antimicrobial drugs tested, including trimethoprim. Common clinical features were tachycardia, hypotension, and leukocytosis. One patient died; the others survived while receiving streptomycin, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, or combinations of these drugs. Intravascular coagulopathy was demonstrated in 19 patients who had elevated titers of fibrinogen-fibrin degradation products in serum; these titers decreased during convalescence. At the time of discharge, peripheral blood smears of most patients showed eosinophilia. The pathogenesis and treatment of plague are considered.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: