Penicillin or Clindamycin for Primary Lung Abscess?

Abstract

Editorials1 April 1983Penicillin or Clindamycin for Primary Lung Abscess?JOHN G. BARTLETT, M.D., SHERWOOD L. GORBACH, M.D.JOHN G. BARTLETT, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, SHERWOOD L. GORBACH, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-98-4-546 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptPenicillin is generally regarded as the preferred drug for treatment of anaerobic lung abscess. This consensus is reflected in recent authoritative texts dealing with internal medicine (1), infectious diseases (2), chemotherapy (3), and pulmonary disease (4). "Penicillin" was the "right" answer for the query regarding the preferred drug for primary lung abscess in the 1982 examination of the American Board of Internal Medicine. Notwithstanding such conventional wisdom, in this issue Levison and associates (5) present data suggesting that clindamycin therapy is superior. The findings in this comparative trial, and especially the high rate of penicillin failures, run counter to current...References1. HIRSCHMANN J, MURRAY J, and PETERSDORF R. Pneumonia and lung abscess. In: ISSELBACHER KJ, ADAMS RD, BRAUNWALD E, PETERSDORF RG, WILSON JD, eds. Principles of Internal Medicine. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company; 1980:1228-9. Google Scholar2. FINEGOLD S. Lung abscess. In: MANDELL GL, DOUGLAS RG JR, BENNETT JE, eds. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. New York: John Wiley & Sons; 1979:509-15. Google Scholar3. SANDE M and MANDELL G. Antimicrobial agents. In: GILMAN AG, GOOD LS, GILMAN A, eds. New York: MacMillan Publishing Company, Inc.; 1980:1086-93, 1139. Google Scholar4. FRASER R and PARE J. Diagnosis of Diseases of the Chest. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Company; 1978:725-31. Google Scholar5. 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CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar18. SEN P, TECSON F, KAPILA R, and LOURIA D. Clindamycin in the oral treatment of putative anaerobic pneumonias. Arch Intern Med. 1974;134:73-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar19. HAND W and KING-THOMPSON N. Membrane transport of clindamycin in alveolar macrophages. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1982;21:241-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: JOHN G. BARTLETT, M.D.; SHERWOOD L. 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The quinolones, new beta lactams, beta lactam combination agents, and miscellaneous antibioticsClindamycin and metronidazoleCase 32-1989Recent Developments in the Understanding of the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Anaerobic InfectionsUtility of Radiography and Clinical Features in the Diagnosis of Community-Acquired PneumoniaOverwhelming pneumoniaDrug Information Analysis ServiceFuture Aspects on the Clinical Use of Clindamycin: A Symposium Held at SAS Royal Hotel, Copenhagen, Denmark, April 6, 1984 1 April 1983Volume 98, Issue 4 Page: 546-548 Keywords Abscesses Chemotherapy Clindamycin Drugs Infectious diseases Lungs Penicillin Pulmonary diseases Respiratory system procedures ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 April 1983 PDF downloadLoading ...