Staphylococcal Vaccine-Toxoid Combined in Human Immunization

From the results obtained by one of us (Etris: 1943, This Journal 309) in the immunization of rabbits with staphylococcal vaccine-toxoid, and because of its direct application to human treatment, it seemed advisable to obtain information on the effect of such a combination in the stimulation of antibacterial and antitoxic antibodies in the normal individual and in patients with infections due to the staphylococcus. The formula of the combination selected for human use contained 2000 million Staphylococcus aureus and 1000 original MND of staphylococcal toxoid in each ml,1 giving a preparation slightly weaker in both respects than the usual single vaccine or toxoid preparation. The individuals selected for study represented two small groups: One group consisted of eleven men from 20 to 50 years of age who did not show evidence of pathology. The other group of five patients either had lesions of known staphylococcal etiology or this organism appeared to be the underlying cause of the condition.