Experimental kerosene pneumonitis in primates: relevance to the therapeutic management of childhood poisoning.

1. Fifteen baboons were utilized to investigate whether secondary bacterial invasion followed experimentally-induced kerosene pneumonia. They were divided into two groups and used as their own controls, following intratracheal injection of either normal saline or kerosene (0.3 ml/kg). 2. The baboons were X-rayed daily for 3 days and lung biopsies taken for histology, aerobic and anaerobic culture. When killed on day 4, all lungs were examined macroscopically, weighed and lung weight/body weight ratios calculated, while biopsy material was handled as above. 3. In spite of repeated anaesthesia, biopsies, pneumothoraces and atelectasis, no organisms were seen histologically, nor were any aerobic or anaerobic organismsm cultured. 4. The results strongly suggest that secondary bacterial infection following kerosene-induced pneumonitis is rare.