Respiratory infections and antimicrobial therapy.

Abstract

This article makes no attempt to summarize all recent literature dealing with respiratory infections and antimicrobials. The field is too large. New developments and highlights emphasized by many authorities have been collected, and such nuggets of information as exist are pointed out. Only material of special interest to the otolaryngologist is included. Viral Infections No viral infections are known that respond to antimicrobial drugs. Until recently, the agents causing psittacosis, trachoma, and lymphopathia venereum were called viruses. Now they have been reclassified. This new grouping has removed from the list of viruses the only agents that were susceptible to antimicrobials. The treatment of viral infections remains symptomatic. Steroid therapy has been recommended in certain viral diseases, such as mumps orchitis, herpes zoster, and infec