Bacteriology of the Lower Respiratory Tract in Health and Chronic Diseases

MANY publications have appeared indicating that chronic infection of the lower respiratory tract is a common occurrence.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Usually, the bacteriology has been determined by aerobic culture of expectorated sputum. Occasionally, it has been derived from secretions aspirated at bronchoscopy.11 Rarely have cultures been obtained directly from the tissues, and usually these studies have been performed post mortem.12 There appears to be little doubt that acute infections occur frequently in the lung and bronchi. However, our experience suggests that except for cases of pulmonary abscess and possibly bronchiectasis, chronic infection with organisms other than mycobacteria or fungi is relatively rare. It . . .