Antibiotics in bacillary dysentery a clinical review of 500 cases

Summary

Five hundred consecutive cases of bacillary dysentery are reported. The results of treatment in 474 of these are analysed (Table II). Sonne infection is more easily eradicated than Flexner—98.7% success was achieved with terramycin/streptomycin and 95·6% with aureomycin. Flexner infection responds rather more readily to aureomycin than to the terramycin/streptomycin combination—92·9% success being achieved with aureomycin compared with 91·5% with terramycin/streptomycin.

Although secondary infection with the staphylococcus caused little inconvenience in this series it constitutes a potential danger which must be remembered when using broad spectrum antibiotics. Effective isolation of the patient, adequate bacteriological control and close clinical supervision are essential in conducting this treatment. With these facilities available, effective cure of bacillary dysentery and a significant decrease in the proportion of carriers can be expected.