STUDIES ON THE ACTION OF SULFAPYRIDINE ON PNEUMOCOCCI

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Abstract
Growth curves in a favorable artificial medium and tests with human blood originally lacking in pneumococcidal properties indicated that sulfapyridine has considerable bacteriostatic and bactericidal action on pneumococci. The degree of bacteriostasis or of bactericidal action depends on the conc. of the drug and the number of pneumococci inoculated. Growth invariably occurred before the sulfapyridine exhibited its effect. Type-specific immune serum confers marked pneumococcidal properties on fresh human blood originally lacking in such properties. Both the sulfapyridine and the immune serum are effective in normal human blood and in the blood of patients with pneumo-coccic pneumonia. The combination of small amts. of serum and sulfapyridine is more effective than either agent used separately in the same amounts. The destruction of pneumococci in the presence of immune serum is rapid whereas the action of sulfapyridine is considerably delayed.