HEMOLYTIC STAPHYLOCOCCUS PNEUMONIA IN EARLY INFANCY

Abstract

There have hitherto been no published reports on the use of penicillin in the treatment of pneumonia due to Staphylococcus aureus hemolyticus in young infants. The following report of cases is of value because of the ages of the patients, the low dosage of penicillin required to effect recovery and the lack of response to sulfadiazine. REPORT OF CASES Case 1.—A boy aged 5 weeks, whose weight at birth was 2,800 Gm. and whose neonatal course was smooth, one week before his admission to the hospital began to have a slight nasal discharge with considerable nasal obstruction. He had no fever and seemed in good condition until eighteen hours before admission, when he began to vomit his feedings and his condition became rapidly worse. When admitted he was pale and listless but did not appear desperately ill. The infant did not breathe through the mouth. There was a profuse nasal