One Half Gram of Streptomycin in the Treatment of Pulmonary and Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis

Report of 120 Cases

¹ Minneapolis Deaconess Hospital.

Total number of cases: 120 pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis.

Dosage: 0.25 gram at 12 hour intervals.

Temperature (64 cases): 67.2 per cent returned to normal; 12.4 per cent decreased to 99° F.

Weight (99 cases): 70.7 per cent gained weight.

Sedimentation rate of the red blood cells (100 cases): 62 per cent had a decrease.

Converted sputums (87 cases): 45 per cent converted.

Exudative lesions (36 cases): 63.8 per cent showed marked to moderate improvement roentgenographically.

Cavitation (32 cases): 37.5 per cent were healed or lost to view; 18.8 per cent became smaller.

Laryngeal-bronchial tuberculosis (31 cases): 54.8 per cent were healed; 19.3 per cent improved.

Toxicity: Not a single case was encountered in our series.

Although there was not a sufficient number of the extrapulmonary and thoracic surgery cases for statistical significance, evidence is accumulating that good response occurs in draining sinuses of the rectum, anus, cervical and epididymi; spreads from thoracic surgery; osteoymelitis; and symptomatic relief in urinary tract tuberculosis.