EFFECTS OF TERRAMYCIN ON THE BACTERIAL FLORA OF THE BOWEL IN MAN

Abstract

THE PRESENT study was primarily undertaken to determine the action of terramycin¹ on the bacterial flora of the bowel in man, particularly in the presence of ulcerative lesions of that organ. METHODS Stool specimens were collected in clean, wax-coated cardboard containers and cultured the same day. They were obtained before and within 36 hours after the institution of therapy in every instance, and at varying intervals thereafter depending on the nature of the case. A total of 44 stool specimens was examined. There were two objectives in the cultural study: to make a quantitative, as well as qualitative, determination of the micro-organisms present in the stool, and to determine the in vitro sensitivity to penicillin, dihydrostreptomycin and terramycin of the micro-organisms identified. The procedure was as follows: One milliliter of wet stool was added to 9 ml. of sterile isotonic sodium chloride solution and stirred to make a 1:10