BLOOD COUNTS AND LONG-TERM ANTIBIOTIC THERAPY

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Abstract
The charts of 100 dermatological patients seen in private practice, who had received one or more antibiotic agents systematically for more than two months, were drawn at random from the authors' files and reviewed. Minor variations from what is considered normal in peripheral blood counts occurred in 54 of the patients. Leukocytosis was noted in 34, leukopenia in 7, and reversal of the polymorphonuclear leukocyte—lymphocyte ratio in 19. Other changes included eosinophilia, presence of atypical lymphocytes, and toxic granulations. Therapy of anemia was indicated in only one patient. The changes in this series may or may not be attributable to the antibiotics or sulfonamides; they were never dangerous, though patients should be made to understand that antibacterial agents should never be taken indiscriminately or without regular medical examination.

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