Synergistic Action Between the Sulfonamides, Certain Dyes, and Streptomycin Against Gram-Negative Bacteria: Preliminary Report

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Abstract
The authors investigated the possible synergistic bac-teriostatifc effects of sulfonamides, certain dyes and antibiotics. The bacteriostatic effect of the drug used singly and in combination against a variety of Gram-negative bacteria was investigated both in nutrient broth and in urine. The bacteriostatic effect of sulfonamides was much increased by poising with methylene blue or cresyl blue. Superimposing a reducing system upon the sulfathiazole-methylene blue combination destroys its synergistic effect, from which it is concluded that Eh poising is a critical factor in the activity of this combination. In vitro and in vivo results indicate that the particular Eh level required would seem to be specific to the particular organism being inactivated. In vitro findings establish that synergism against specific Gram-neg. bacteria also occurs in the following combinations: sulfonamides and penicillin; sulfonamides and streptomycin; sulfonamides and acriflavine; streptomycin and acriflavine; streptomycin and neutral red. Clinical studies on the possible usefulness of such drug combinations were also carried out.