CURRENT USEFULNESS OF PROCAINE PENICILLIN IN THE TREATMENT OF PNEUMOCOCCAL PNEUMONIA

The aim of this study was to determine whether procaine penicillin cou ld be used in the treatment of suspected pneumococcal pneumonia of mil d to moderate severity in an area with a high prevalence of penicillin resistance. Forty-nine patients were treated with 1.2 (.) 10(6) U of i.m. procaine penicillin every 12 h. By intent-to-treat analysis, 40 o f 49 patients were cured and no patient died. Streptococcus pneumoniae could be demonstrated in 17 patients; 5 of 17 isolates were resistant to penicillin (MICs 0.25-4 mu g/ml). Fifteen of 17 patients were cure d with procaine penicillin, one presented allergy, and one was a thera peutic failure. Mean penicillin serum levels were 2.39+/-1.16 mu g/ml (peak) and 0.61+/- 0.38 mu g/ml (trough). The results suggest that pro caine penicillin may still be useful in the empirical therapy of suspe cted pneumococcal pneumonia.