INHALATION OF PENICILLIN AEROSOL IN PATIENTS WITH BRONCHIAL ASTHMA, CHRONIC BRONCHITIS, BRONCHIECTASIS AND LUNG ABSCESS: PRELIMINARY REPORT

Abstract

The inhalation of penicillin as an aerosol was studied from the point of view of a clinical therapeutic procedure. In animal experimentation it was shown that rats could be protected against intraperit. injn. of an otherwise fatal dose of hemolytic streptococcus culture by a single inhalation of 25,000 units penicillin. No significant irritating effects were observed by microscopic section of the lungs of the normal rats to whom penicillin aerosol was administered. A device was described by which penicillin soln. was aerosolized during the inspiratory cycle only by the passage of 6 L. per min. of O through a suitable nebulizer. An exploratory study on the effectiveness of penicillin-aerosol therapy in 20 patients who suffered from bronchial asthma, bronchiectasis, pulmonary emphysema and acute lung abscess revealed definite improvement in a limited number. The predominating organisms in the sputum cultures were persistently absent within 24 hrs. after termination of therapy. The blood level 1 hr. after inhalation of the aerosol was generally between 0.01 and 0.04 units, at times as high as 0.18 U. Further studies on the use of penicillin aerosol in the conditions mentioned are in progress.