THE ABSORPTION, DISTRIBUTION, AND EXCRETION OF STREPTOMYCIN IN MAN 1

Abstract

25,000-500,000 U. were given to 22 patients intramusc. and intraven.; 500,000-2,000,000 U. orally. After injn., about 50% was excreted in the urine within 24 hrs. Streptomycin was not absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract after a single dose of 500,000 U., but traces appeared both in serum and urine after 2,000,000 U. Serum concns. after different amts. and intervals are stated. It was not found in the spinal fluid after intramusc. and intraven. injn. but was found after intrathecal injn. Substantial amts. penetrated the peritoneal cavity in peritonitis. It was found in ascitic fluid but like penicillin did not penetrate empyema cavities in therapeutic amts. Of 45 patients treated with streptomycin, 13 had toxic symptoms, muscular aching, weakness, fever (3), rash (2) and joint pain. A series of graphs and 7 tables give the complete data.