The causative organisms of bronchopneumonia in infants in Egypt.

Every paediatrician is familiar with the lack of therapeutic agents in severe bronchopneumonia and the mixed opinions expressed regarding the use of vaccines. The literature of the last fifteen years is full of encouraging results regarding vaccinotherapy in bronchopneumonia, both experimental (Zinssner, 1929; Barach, 1928; Goodner, 1928) and clinical (Wynn, 1926; Hay, 1927; Lambert, 1926; Forbes and Steinberg, 1931 ; Cardere, 1930; Fort, 1927; Weill and Dufourt, 1924). However, experience, personal or gained from a careful perusal of the literature, has shown the uncertainty of the results obtained from vaccinotherapy. One of the explanations of these uncertain results obtained by this method of treatment might be that in the preparation of the stock vaccines, no account is taken of the variation in the nature and combination of organisms responsible for the seasonal epidemics from year to year and from country to country. A preliminary step, therefore, before a considered judgement can be passed as to the value of vaccinotherapy in bronchopneumonia in children, would be to identify the organisms responsible for seasonal epidemics in each country and to make the stock vaccines in accordance with the results. It is with this object that an attempt has been made to identify the causative organisms of bronchopneumonia in infants in Egypt.