Characteristics of Pneumonias Caused by<i>Escherichia coli</i>

Abstract

IN an initial report we observed that pneumonias caused by gram-negative bacilli other than Klebsiella pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae do occur.1 Moreover, in a large general hospital these "unusual" pneumonias are not rare. In the 38 original cases the pneumonias due to Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, proteus species or bacteroides were predominantly diseases of middle-aged men with underlying alcoholism, diabetes mellitus or cardiac or chronic pulmonary diseases. The overall mortality was 45 per cent.1 Since the increasing seriousness of infections due to gram-negative bacilli is now generally recognized,2 3 4 5 and moreover, since these are among the most difficult illnesses to . . .