OXYTETRACYCLINE-STREPTOMYCIN THERAPY IN BRUCELLOSIS DUE TO BRUCELLA MELITENSIS

Abstract

ALTHOUGH there have been significant advances in the therapy of acute brucellosis in the past few years, the incidence of post-treatment relapses has remained a problem. In a previous study reported by us there was a relapse rate of 69% following the administration of any one of three antibiotics for an average period of 12 days.¹ Subsequently, efforts to reduce the incidence of relapse proceeded along two lines. One was to prolong administration of a single antibiotic.² The other was to use a combination of oxytetracycline ("terramycin") and streptomycin, an approach suggested by the apparent synergism between streptomycin and either aureomycin³ or oxytetracycline.⁴ The present paper reports a study of the latter method in which combined oxytetracycline-streptomycin therapy was administered to 23 patients with acute or subacute brucellosis. The results demonstrate that this form of therapy effects a marked reduction in relapse rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients. —Of the 23