THE BALANCE BETWEEN CAPSULAR POLYSACCHARIDE AND ANTIBODY IN RELATION TO THE PROGNOSIS AND THERAPY OF PNEUMOCOCCAL PNEUMONIA

Abstract

Free capsular polysaccharide was detected in the blood of 5 patients; 4 died. In 1 patient treated with serum and sulfapyridine, temporary remission occurred. The recovered patient had a protracted illness, requiring several courses of drug. The prognosis with bacteremia alone was less serious than when capsular polysaccharide was associated with it. Capsular polysaccharide can be detected in blood with less delay than bacteremia. Antibodies were not detected by agglutinins and precipitins in the blood of all patients who recovered after sulfapyridine therapy, nor did high titre of antibodies secure recovery.