Pneumonia in North-West London, 1942-4: I. Bacterial Pneumonias

Abstract

The study was undertaken because of the confusing previous reports on the relative incidence of bacterial and viral pneumonia in the U.S.A. The material was taken from an avg. industrial city and limited to cases that at some time showed radiological evidence of consolidation that later cleared. The majority of cases had a history of previous chest illness. The duration of illness prior to admission was longer in the group of uncertain etiology than in the group with bacterial pneumonias. Of the 351 cases, 278 were pneumococcal, other pathogenic bacteria were present in 20 cases, and 53 were "viral." The response to treatment with the sulfa drugs was favorable in 90% of the pneumococcal type pneumonia. The death rate in this group, was 5%. In the non-pneumococcal bacterial pneumonia there were 5 deaths and the hospital stay was twice as long as in the pneumococcal type. Of the infecting organisms in this group the hemolytic streptococcus produced a very severe illness at the onset. However, these patients did well. The Staphylococcus aureus cases did very poorly and of the 7 cases of this type, 4 died.