LACK OF INTERFERENCE OF AUREOMYCIN WITH PENICILLIN IN TREATMENT OF PNEUMOCOCCIC PNEUMONIA

Abstract

CERTAIN bacteria are destroyed more slowly in vitro when exposed to the combination of penicillin and aureomycin, chlooxytetracycline ("terramycin") than when exposed to penicillin alone.¹ has also been observed in experimental mouse²fections.hat received both penicillin and one of thebroad-spectrumhad a higher mortality rate than those treated with penicillin alone. Effective antibiotic blood levels were present only for a few hours, however, and in similar studies performed in our laboratory no antagonism occurred when blood levels were maintained for two or three³ys.se observations indicate that antibiotic antagonism is significant mainly during the early hours of antibiotic action and that it may be of clinical importance only when recovery depends upon the rapid destruction of bacteria. Leppe-Dowlingted a higher mortality rate for patients with pneumococcictis who received both penicillin and aureomycin than for a controlup treated with penicillin alone. Inpneumococcic, survival seems to d-end upon the rapid destruction of pneumococci, and it