The treatment of certain experimental anaerobic infections with sulphapyridine and with immune sera and the problem of synergic action

Abstract

1. Sulphapyridine is an efficient prophylactic or therapeutic agent against intradermal infection with the strain ofVibrion septiqueselected for test, whereas, in intramuscular infection the drug is unreliable and saves only a relatively small proportion of animals.2. The strain ofCl. welchii(type A) selected for test is not insusceptible to the action of sulphapyridine. A significant degree of protection against intradermal infection may be obtained however, only when a prophylactic dose of the drug is given. The drug is apparently without action against intramuscular infection with this strain.3. Under the particular experimental conditions sulphanilamide is much less effective than sulphapyridine against infection with eitherV. septiqueorCl. welchii.4. There is no evidence that sulphapyridine givenper osneutralizes the toxins ofV. septiqueorCl. welchiiinjected intravenously.5. It is possible to control infection withV. septiqueby antitoxin or antibacterial serum given at a time when sulphapyridine is of little use.Cl. welchiiantitoxin has a marked therapeutic effect in infection with this strain of the organism but sulphapyridine given only after infection is apparently without action on the course of the disease.6. In intradermal infection withV. septiquethe combined action of sulpha-pyridine and antitoxin or of sulphapyridine and antibacterial serum effects a saving in life much greater than would be expected if a mere summation effect was in question. A similar effect was observed in intramuscular infection provided the administration of the drug was sufficiently prolonged. No such synergic effect is produced by the combined action of antitoxic and antibacterial serum.7. InCl. welchiiinfection the combined action of antitoxin and sulpha-pyridine produces a noticeable synergic effect but the evidence on this point is less clearly defined.8. The pathogenesis of infection with spore-bearing anaerobes is discussed in relation to prophylaxis or therapy with chemotherapeutic agents, antitoxin, antibacterial serum and combinations of such.9. The statistical aspect of summation effects is briefly considered pending a forthcoming mathematical analysis, by Dr K. Mather, of the figures obtained in experiments on synergic action.