Severe staphylococcal infection with pneumonia treated by plasmapheresis and plasma exchange. A preliminary report.

Three cases of extremely severe staphylococcal infection are reported. All 3 patients were treated by plasmapheresis and fresh plasma or fresh-frozen plasma replacement, and all made a steady recovery. In all 3 cases blood culture for Staphylococcus aureus was positive, 1 patient had osteitis, and 1 signs of spinal cord compression by an infectious process (an abscess). It is thought that the above mentioned procedures may offer a useful additional line of therapy for desperately ill patients with staphylococcus infections.