Antimicrobial Therapy of Bacterial Pneumonias

Abstract

With the advent of the antimicrobial agents, the mortality and morbidity rates due to bacterial pneumonias have been markedly reduced. Nevertheless, bacterial pneumonia remains a serious disease, especially in patients more than 50 years of age and those having chronic illnesses. For the most part, penicillin, administered in any of a variety of preparations and dosages, is the drug of choice for the treatment of this disease. In patients with recurrent pneumonias the likelihood of bronchial disease is strong and a search for underlying factors must be made.