AUREOMYCIN, A NEW ANTIBIOTIC

Abstract

Unpublished data made available to us¹suggested that the new antibiotic, aureomycin, was of low toxicity, was effective in vitro against a large variety of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and was particularly effective in experimental infections with rickettsias and with viruses of the psittacosis-lymphogranuloma venereum group. Clinical trials to determine its field of usefulness, therefore, seemed warranted. The results of the oral use of this antibiotic in 100 cases of a variety of bacterial infections are of sufficient interest to warrant this report. A brief résumé of the results of laboratory studies carried out in the course of this clinical study is also included. Further details will be presented in separate communications. <h3>BACTERIOLOGIC STUDIES</h3><h3>Sensitivity of Bacteria.—</h3> Tests for sensitivity to aureomycin were carried out by tube dilution or streak plate methods on one hundred and eighty-six strains of pathogenic bacteria recently isolated from patients at the Boston City