Pneumonia

The investigations of Jensen and Schmith (45) indicate that in vitro activity of 2-sulfanilamido and 4-methyl-2-sulfanilamido selenazoles against pneumonia infections is comparable to that of sulfathiazole or sulfadiazine. Frisk (47) found that the activity of the selenium compounds was much lower than that of sulfathiazole. 

We tend to take the efficacy of modern drugs for granted One comparison with the not too distant past might put this view into better perspec tive Once sulfa drugs were introduced in the United States the number of pneumonia deaths alone de creased by an estimated 25 000 per year The sulfa... 

The bacterium was Strepto coccus pneumoniae also called Pneumococcus... 

Paraffins. Methane and ethane are simple asphyxiants, whereas the higher homologues are central nervous system depressants. Liquid paraffins can remove oil from exposed skin and cause dermatitis or pneumonia in lung tissue. Generally, paraffins are the least toxic class of hydrocarbons. 

Pneumogstis carini pneumonia (PCP), the most common of the opportunistic infections, occurs in more than 80% of AIDS patients (13). Toxoplasmosis, a proto2oan infection of the central nervous system, is activated in AIDS patients when the 004 count drops and severe impairment of ceU-mediated immunity occurs. Typically, patients have a mass lesion(s) in the brain. These mass lesions usually respond well to therapy and can disappear completely. Fungal infections, such as CTyptococcalmeningitis, are extremely common in AIDS patients, and Histop/asma capsulatum appears when ceU-mediated immunity has been destroyed by the HIV vims, leading to widespread infection of the lungs, Hver, spleen, lymph nodes, and bone marrow. AIDS patients are particularly susceptible to bacteremia caused by nontyphoidal strains of Salmonella. Bacteremia may be cleared by using antibiotic therapy. 

Magnesium vanadates, as vanadium compounds in general, are known irritants of the respiratory tract and conjunctiva. The threshold limit value (TLV) for vanadium compounds in air recommended by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health is 0.05 mg/m based on a typical 8-h workday and 40-h workweek (7,147). Chronic inhalation can lead to lung diseases such as bronchitis, bronchopneumonia, and lobar pneumonia. These dust-related effects can be avoided by use of individual respirators in areas where exposure is likely. 

In Vivo Properties. The efficacy of dalbaheptides has been assessed ia various models of experimental septicemia ia mice. In general there was good correlation between the ED qS (effective doses which prevent death ia 50% of test animals) and the MICs on test strains. Teicoplanin was very effective, ED q values ranged from 0.11 to 0.72 mg/kg sc administration for septicemias caused by S. pyogenes S. pneumoniae and S. aureu whereas for vancomycin ED qS were from 0.58 to 7.2 mg/kg (33). Eremomycin (52) had therapeutic activity 2—3 times greater than vancomycin. Therapeutic indices... 

In 1956 selenium was identified (123) as an essential micronutrient iu nutrition. In conjunction with vitamin E, selenium is effective iu the prevention of muscular dystrophy iu animals. Sodium selenite is adrninistered to prevent exudative diathesis iu chicks, a condition iu which fluid leaks out of the tissues white muscle disease iu sheep and infertility iu ewes (see Eeed ADDITIVES). Selenium lessens the iacidence of pneumonia iu lambs and of premature, weak, and stillborn calves controls hepatosis dietetica iu pigs and decreases muscular inflammation iu horses. White muscle disease, widespread iu sheep and cattle of the selenium-deficient areas of New Zealand and the United States, is insignificant iu high selenium soil areas. The supplementation of animal feeds with selenium was approved by the U.S. EDA iu 1974 (see Eeed additives). Much of selenium s metaboHc activity results from its involvement iu the selenoproteia enzyme, glutathione peroxidase. 

Vaccines can be roughly categorized into killed vaccines and Hve vaccines. A killed vaccine can be (/) an inactivated, whole microorganism such as pertussis, (2) an inactivated toxin, called toxoid, such as diphtheria toxoid, or (J) one or more components of the microorganism commonly referred to as subunit vaccines. The examples are capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae and the surface antigen protein for Hepatitis B vims vaccine. 

Vaccines for special populations are Hsted in Table 2. Two vaccines that are in fairly widespread use in the adult population are vaccines that prevent viral influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia. 

Parainfluenza. Parainfluenza vimses (PIV) also causes viral pneumonia in infants. It is similar to RSV, therefore similar approaches are being used for developing a vaccine. A five attenuated PIV-3 vaccine has been in clinical trial (74). 

Cost—benefit analyses for adult immunizations have also been performed. Influenza immunization during the period from 1971 to 1977 resulted in over 13 million more years of life at a cost of only 63 per year of life gained. Productivity gains were estimated to have a value of 250 x 10 (148). Projected costs of pneumonia have been calculated at 3.6 times the cost of vaccination, or a savings of 141 per person is achieved among those at risk for developing pneumonia or over the age of 50 years (149). 

Cefuroxime (35) is effective against community-acquired pneumonia in which ampicillin-resistant Haemophilus influence is the probable etiologic agent. Cefoxitin (23) is used to treat mixed aerobic—anaerobic infections including pelvic infections, intra-abdorninal infections, and nosocomial aspiration pneumonia. Cefonicid (31), because of its long half-life has been used in a once-a-day regimen to treat a variety of mild to moderate infections including community-acquired pneumonias, urinary tract infections, and infections of the skin and soft tissue (132,215). 

M ribosomal protection Neisseria, Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma, Haemophilus, Campylobacter, Clostridium, Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus Gardnerella, Kingella, Eikenella, Veillonella, Tusobacterium, Peptostreptococcus Clostridium difficile. Streptococcus pneumoniae... 

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