Superinfections of the lung. An evaluation by serial transtracheal aspirations.

A prospective evaluation of cephaloridine, cephalothin, and lincomycin was conducted in 85 patients with pneumonia. None of the 50 with previous history of allergic sensitivity to penicillin had an allergic reaction. All cases of pure "pneumococcal pneumonia" were cured, regardless of the drug. Eight patients with polymicrobial pneumonia were cured by the cephalosporins, while lincomycin was ineffective in four patients who had polymicrobial pneumonia. Although expectorated sputum and exudates from the nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal areas contained large concentrations of Staphylococcus aureus and various Gram-negative bacillary species during and at the end of therapy, serial cultures of transtracheal aspirate and the clinical course failed to confirm "superinfection" of the lung.