SULFONAMIDE-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCI: CORRELATION OF IN VITRO SULFONAMIDE—RESISTANCE WITH SULFONAMIDE THERAPY 1

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Abstract
The problem of sulfonamide-resistant bacteria in general is reviewed. Fifty-seven strains of coagulase-positive staphylococci, isolated from an equal number of patients, were tested in vitro with a standard procedure against Na sulfathiazole in a synthetic medium, containing negligible amts. of sulfonamide inhibitor. Thirty two of the strains were considered non-resistant; 8 were moderately resistant; while 17 strains required a conc. of 100 mg. per 100 ml. or more of NA sulfathiazole before growth was completely inhibited. The acquisition of sulfonamide-resistance by staphylococci is a persistent characteristic of the organisms. Although it was apparent that sulfonamide-resistant staphylococci do not necessarily develop as a result of the adm. of the sulfonamides, the evidence indicates that resistant strains were almost always isolated from patients who had had previous sulfonamide therapy. The development of sulfonamide-resistance by staphylococci is dependent, at least in part, upon the elaboration of p-amino-benzoic acid by the bacterial cells.