THE LOCAL EFFECT OF SULFANILAMIDE, SULFATHIAZOLE AND SULFADIAZINE UPON HEMOLYTIC STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS INFECTIONS OF THE PLEURAL CAVITY

Abstract

Left total pneu-monectomy was performed upon 11 dogs in which 0.3 gm. of sulfonamide drug per kg. of body wt. was placed in the pleural space. Sulfathiazole was the most effective of the 3 sulfonamides in the prevention of fatal empyema due to the hemolytic Staph. aureus. Sulfadiazine appears to have been almost as efficacious as sulfathiazole. Sulfanilamide offered the least protection against the infection. The maintenance of a high blood level of sulfadiazine for a period of 5 days is interesting. Sulfanilamide and sulfathiazole disappeared from the blood stream in nearly the same period of time after operation, despite the difference in the occurrence of fatal empyema in the 2 groups of animals. Disruption of the chest wound occurred in 3 animals in the sulfathiazole group and in 1 in which sulfanilamide was used. Sulfanilamide is absorbed from the contaminated pleural cavity more rapidly than sulfathiazole. Sulfadiazine was absorbed much more slowly than either of the other drugs. The greater incidence of wound disruption in animals in which sulfathiazole was used suggests that this drug may have interfered with the healing of the wounds. There was little gross local evidence of reaction to sulfanilamide or sulfathiazole used in the pleural cavity following pneumonectomy. Sulfadiazine produced a more marked inflammatory reaction than did the other drugs.