SPECIFIC SEROTHERAPY AND CHEMOTHERAPY OF THE PNEUMOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAS

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Abstract
The authors recommend the use of sulfapyridine and type-specific antipneumococcus serum in combination in treating pneumonia. The etiological classification of the pneumonias is important for prognosis and therapy. Rabbit serums are important in therapy because (1) serum can be made more rapidly than horse serum; (2) for most types, the titers of antibody are uniformly higher; (3) it is more economical; (4) size of antibody molecule is smaller; (5) it is possible to treat with rabbit serum patients who are sensitive to horse serum. Serums are now better standardized. Sulfanilamid is apparently beneficial only for type III pneumonia. The results with the use of sulfapyridine are striking. Authors, however, strongly advise against the abandonment of specific serum in favor of sulfapyridine alone. They outline the procedures of choice for the treatment of patients with acute pneumonia: (1) type the sputum and culture the blood; (2) complete blood counts, urinalysis, and blood non-protein N determinations; (3) use sulfapyridine as soon as diagnosis is established; (4) give specific serums as soon as possible.

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