[Still current aspects of primary pulmonary suppurations]

The paper presents the results of a clinical study carried out in 74 male and 11 female patients presenting with primitive pulmonary suppurations. The onset was of the acute type in 71 cases, and the radiological changes, mainly located in the right lung (in 60 patients) consisted in cavitary aspects -- frequently of the hydro-aerial type in 59 patients, and diffuse non-homogeneous opacities in the other 26. Identification of the germs responsible for the infection in the bronchial secretion maintains its significance, and facilities, with the aid of the antibiogram, an orientation of the therapy. One should stress that the Strep. aureus variety, the pyocyanic bacilli, and Klebsiella strains have determined the most severe forms of the disease. The complex therapy included administration of antibiotics. The treatment was energetic and prolonged. In 63 of the subjects penicillin perfusions were applied, while in 67 of the patients large amounts of antibiotics and sulphonamides were given simultaneously by different routes without iatrogenic effects. The persistence of radiological cavitary sequels in 40 patients (of which in 6 were of important dimensions), and the average duration of the hospitalization (38,4 days, far above the general average for the year 1979 -- 22,2 days), illustrates the difficulties in the assistance of these patients and make necessary practical measures for a rapid diagnosis in view of applying an adequate etiologic therapy, as well as the necessity for dispensarization after discharging, at least for those of the patients that still have cavitary sequelae.