Continuous Suppressive Antimicrobial Treatment in Chronic Infected Bronchitis During the Winter Months

¹ Department of Microbial Diseases, University Hospital
² Department of Chest Diseases, University Hospital

Sixty-three patients with moderately severe chronic bronchitis took part in a double-blind investigation into the effect of tetracycline (twice 0.5 gm daily) and sulfaphenazole (twice 0.5 gm daily) taken during the winter-months. Tetracycline suppressed both D. pneumoniae and H. influenzae in the sputum. Bacteriologic findings in the sulfaphenazole-group did not differ from those in the placebo-group. As regards the clinical results, there were no significant differences between the groups. There were no indications of any marked influence of viral infections of the types studied present during this investigation or of a less virulent bacterial flora (producing less severe infections) having interfered with a proper clinical evaluation of the effects of tetracycline therapy.