ROLE OF THE FRIEDLÄNDER BACILLUS IN CHRONIC RESPIRATORY DISEASE

Abstract

The Friedlander bacillus, K. pneumoniae, not only causes severe types of pneumonia but is recoverable, and the apparent etiological factor, in many chronic respiratory syndromes. Friedlander bacilli were isolated in pure or mixed culture from 3 cases of chronic suppurative bronchitis, 3 cases of asthma with associated bronchitis, one case of bronchiectasis and one of lung abscess. Treatment with appropriate antibiotics was successful in 7 cases and unsuccessful in the 1 case of bronchiectasis. Isolation of the organism is facilitated by culture of sputum on blood agar in the presence of various antibiotic blotter discs, or on Sabouraud''s medium. Sensitivity of the organisms to antibiotics is variable and resistant strains are encountered.