The chemotherapy of bacterial infections refractory to the common antibiotics

Since the introduction and widespread use of antibiotics, organisms such as B. proteus, Ps. aeruginosa, coli-aerogenes, Staph. aureus and the enterococcus have emerged as common etiologic agents of refractory infections. With proper precautions and careful observation, more toxic antibiotics such as polymyxin, neomycin and bacitracin may be successfully employed in the treatment of these infections. In addition, erythromycin, carbomycin and furadantin are more recent chemotherapeutic agents which are of some assistance in combating organisms resistant to the older antibiotics. Of course, it must be stressed that the successful treatment of a refractory bacterial infection depends on the early and proper evaluation of the diagnosis and the host factors involved, as well as consideration of the chemotherapeutic and bacterial agents. The answer to eradication of these infections will most frequently be found in sound clinical judgment, application of longestablished principles of general medical and surgical therapy, and in carefully standardized and controlled laboratory sensitivity determinations.