[Effect of Alinamin F and Kakkontou on mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa chronic lower respiratory tract infection].

In a 78-year-old woman with chronic respiratory tract infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa with a mucoid phenotype, the organism was eliminated from the sputum by use of Kakkontou (Chinese herbal drug) and Alinamin F (Fursultiamine). Gram staining of a sputum smear showed mucoid micro-organisms were engulfed by neutrophils. Both drugs could change the mucoid character of this microorganism. It was suggested that polymorphonuclear leukocytes activated by Kakkontou could recognize this organism as a foreign body because of the changed mucoid character, and cleared it by phagocytosis.