Respiratory Infections Due to Klebsiella Pneumoniae

¹ Brooklyn Hospital, Brooklyn, New York.
² Missouri State Sanatorium, Mt. Vernon.

We have reviewed the current literature and the case histories of 10 patients with varying degrees of respiratory illness from whom K. pneumoniae was isolated. The following points have been derived:

1. Predisposing diseases are important in the etiology of Friedlander's pneumonia. Six of our patients had diabetes.

2. Isolation of Friedlander's bacillus from a patient with pulmonary disease does not prove causal relationship.

3. Early bacteriological diagnosis is important.

4. Combined therapy with penicillin and streptomycin was ineffective in this series.

5. The best antibiotic regimen is probably streptomycin plus a broad spectrum antibiotic.

6. Chronic Friedlander's pneumonia may resemble tuberculosis or carcinoma.

7. The use of nor-epinephrine and/or cortisone may be lifesaving as supplemental therapy for acute overwhelming pneumonias.