Studies on Epidemic Influenza: Comprising Clinical and Laboratory InvestigationsUniversity of Pittsburgh. School of Medicine
History
Studies on Epidemic Influenza: Comprising Clinical and Laboratory Investigations
University of Pittsburgh. School of Medicine
Influenza; Influenza Epidemic, 1918-1919
Secondary, ancillary or symbiotic bacteria are of cardinal importance in
these infections. It has been considered by some writers as
characteristic for the influenza bacillus to be followed so frequently
with such a variety of secondary invaders. Sahli looked upon the complex
of B. influenzæ, pneumococcus and streptococcus as the true etiological
cause of influenza. Abrahams and his associates discussed the symbiotic
effect of the B. influenzæ in raising the virulence of pneumococci
previously present in the patient and many other investigators lay
stress on these symbiotic relationships.
Pneumococci appear to be the commonest of these secondary
micro-organisms judging from the various published reports, but the fact
must not be overlooked that, particularly in America, the typing of
pneumococci has drawn a disproportionate attention to this group.
Hemolytic streptococci have received much attention (Ely and his
co-workers and several others). M. catarrhalis (Gotch and Wittingham and
several of the British writers), members of the B. mucosus capsulatus
group (Nichols and Stimmel, Rucker and Wenner), staphylococcus aureus
(Patrick), various ill-defined streptococci (Rosenow and several British
writers), capsulated cocci apparently different from pneumococci, B.
pestislike forms and many others have been given more or less attention,
often as clearly recognized secondary infections, but not infrequently
as of primary significance.
B. influenzæ, however, is the organism most regularly found in this
pandemic where carefully looked for, and the evidence of its lowering
the general resistance to bacterial invasion is very strong. The
experiments of Ghedini and Fedeli showing the effect of the toxine on
muscular tone and those of Ghedini and Breccia who found a similar
effect on blood vessels are worthy of note.
The fact that the flora differs so widely in various regions is what one
might expect and many investigators have emphasized the significance of
this. Bacteria in the mouth and throat are readily transmitted from
individual to individual and under the conditions in the training camps
and our modern life, the development of local flora is not surprising.
That it is of very great importance is recognized by all and it is often
a determining factor in the severity of the infection. Nevertheless,
influenza in this pandemic has been almost equally severe whatever the
secondary organism may have been.
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