CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE USE OF TERRAMYCIN HYDROCHLORIDE

Abstract

The discovery of a new antibiotic called terramycin was reported recently by Finlay and associates.¹This drug is produced by Streptomyces rimosus, a new actinomycete isolated from a soil sample, and is described as a crystalline amphoteric substance which can form either salts with acids (terramycin hydrochloride) or salts with bases (the sodium salt of terramycin). Currently, 1 microgram of the amphoteric compound has been defined as containing 1 microgram of activity, and the activity of the salts are stated in terms of the equivalent weight of pure terramycin. In vitro the antibiotic has a wide activity against many species of bacteria, both gram positive and gram negative.²The purpose of this preliminary study is to report the clinical results observed after the oral administration of terramycin hydrochloride³in patients with various infections, which are described in the accompanying table. From the tabulation it will be noted