Streptomycin in Experimental Plague.

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Abstract
Streptomycin in concs. of 0.4-4.0 7/ml. is bactericidal for 100,000 organisms/ml. of different strains of Pasteurella pestis in beef heart infusion broth in 5 days. Sterilization conc. depends on the density of the organisms, type and composition of medium, time of exposure, and pH. In exptl. bubonic plague in mice and guinea pigs, streptomycin treatment beginning at the time when 40-60% of the animals had a well-established bacteremia cured 80-100%. Streptomycin injd. into guinea pig buboes sterilized the infected regional lymph nodes and cured the animal of plague. With high doses of penicillin, sulfadiazine, anti-plague sera, and streptomycin, only streptomycin cured mice of septicemic plague. When plague organisms were introduced intranasally, streptomycin was again the most effective therapeutic agent. In only 6 hrs. after the 1st dose of 200 [gamma]/6 hrs./mouse, the total bacilli count in the lungs was reduced by 40%, and in 5 days the lungs of all of the mice were completely sterilized. The remarkable bactericidal action of streptomycin demonstrated in treatment of exptl. bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic plague suggests its use in human plague at dosages of 2-4 g. daily depending on the state of infection.

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