Aetiological Diagnosis of Pneumonia in Childhood by Lung Puncture.

Abstract

Summary: Needle aspiration of the lung was undertaken in 73 children with pneumonia in order to establish the bacteriological diagnosis. Pathogens were isolated in 54.2% of the pa tients. The same organisms were isolated from the lungs and pharyngeal aspirates in 4.1% of the patients. Forty-two bacterial strains were isolated from 40 positive lung aspirates. Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae constituted 66.5% of the pathogens isolated. Mild complications, consisting of pneumothorax and haemoptysis, occurred in 5-5% of the patients. It is concluded that lung puncture in experienced hands, is a useful tool in establishing bacterial aetiology of childhood pneumonia.