Saturday, October 29, 2011
The outstanding advantage of this antibiotic is its bactericidal effect on the tubercle bacillus. Its value in controlling certain infections due to gram-negative bacilli is also of clinical importance. Its disadvantages are the serious toxic reactions which are discussed below and the fact that bacteria readily acquire resistance to the antibiotic. When this condition is due to an organism relatively resistant to penicillin, such as Str. Faecalis, good results may be obtained by combining large doses of penicillin with streptomycin due to the greater bactericidal effect of the combination. Streptomycin is not absorbed when given by mouth and hence can be used in the treatment of intestinal infections, such as dysentery due to sensitive organisms. Urinary infections due to sensitive gram-negative organisms can be treatment with this antibiotic provided the urine is kept alkaline, as streptomycin, being a base, is inactive in an acid medium. It is now usually possible to prescribe simpler and more effective therapy with less risk of the development of resistant organisms and streptomycin has largely been superseded by other antibiotics in the treatment of urinary tract infections.
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