Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole in the Treatment of Typhoid and Paratyphoid Fevers

Abstract

A trial was conducted in naturally-occurring disease to compare the efficacy of treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) with oral chloramphenicol. The majority of patients treated with TMP-SMZ (79%) responded just as well as did those treated with oral chloramphenicol, as measured by time of disappearance of fever after therapy. Seven patients treated with TMP-SMZ, however, failed to respond after 11 or more days of treatment. Neither levels of drug in serum nor in vitro sensitivity tests of the isolated $ISalmonella$N could account for the slow response of these patients to TMP-SMZ.