THE EFFECT OF ISONIAZID ON GROWING AND RESTING TUBERCLE BACILLI

Abstract

The effect of isoniazid on tubercle bacilli was studied in media with and without glucose as the only C source. In the presence of glucose, isoniazid was rapidly bactericidal, but not so in the absence of glucose. The organisms proliferated for 1 1/2 generations in glucose before their growth was arrested. The bacilli lost their acid-fastness nearly completely within 2 days. In the absence of glucose, there was no growth and no loss of acid-fastness. Isoniazid acts on growing, but not on resting, tubercle bacilli.