PRESENT STATUS OF SPECIFIC DRUG TREATMENT OF TUBERCULOSIS

Abstract

During the past six years Fitzsimons Army Hospital has participated in the 11 conferences on chemotherapy of tuberculosis sponsored by the Veterans Administration, at which the experiences of 44 hospitals (Veterans Administration, Army, and Navy) have been carefully recorded and analyzed. 1 The latest report of this work on approximately 10,000 cases is now a matter of record. During the period of these studies, the tuberculosis service of this hospital, with an average census of 1,000 patients, has had the opportunity of evaluating antibacterial agents used in the treatment of this disease in adults. The clinical material available has been particularly suitable for pilot studies on the therapeutic effectiveness, bacterial resistance, and toxicity of new drugs and combinations of drugs (table 1). In spite of these experiences and all the excellent reference material available in the literature, it still remains a monumental task to place specific drug therapy of pulmonary