Microbial Flora Associated with Pulmonary Neoplasms

The microbial flora associated with various tumors of the lung was studied in 19 patients. Biopsy specimens taken from the resected bronchus and from peripheral lung tissue at thoracotomy were cultured for aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms prior to administration of prophylactic antibiotics. Bacterial growth was obtained in bronchial and/or pulmonary biopsy culture in eight patients, with additional growth of fungi (Candida parapsilosis) in one of them. The microflora was of oropharyngeal origin, with streptococci and staphylococci predominating. The remaining 11 patients were culture-negative. The results of the study suggest that a prophylactic antibiotic regimen consisting of antistreptococcal and antistaphylococcal drugs is appropriate.