Pneumococcal antigen in pneumonia. A post-mortem study with the histological and bacteriological findings

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Abstract
Summary: Pneumococcal capsular antigens can be detected in lung tissue by counter-current immunoelectrophoresis even when, following antibiotics, post-mortem bacterilogy suggests that Escherichia coli has replaced pneumococci. The results suggest that antipneumococcal therapy would benefit at least 55% of patients critically ill with lung infection and that the potentially toxic drugs directed at coliform bacteria may be unnecessary.