Lowered Incidence of Sensitization with Sulphonamide Combinations

Problems of Chemotherapy in the Older Age Group†

“…This enormous use of antimicrobial agents on an aging population has resulted in rapidly increasing percentages of sensitization reactions, particularly for penicillin, the antibiotic employed longest, most widely and in the highest concentrations (4). It is of interest that the increasing incidence of allergic reactions observed with increasing dosage of penicillin is in good agreement with a concept that I presented in 1948 (8), namely, that within limits, the incidence of production of sensitization is directly proportional to the tissue concentration of the sensitizing agent.…”

“…Treatment may therefore be begun at once, with the probability of rapid cure in a considerable proportion of cases. In mild infections small dosages (0.5 gram, four times daily) may be adequate, and except for previous history of sensitization, untoward reactions are rarely encountered (8). Serious infections, especially those involving the kidney (pyelonephritis), require full therapeutic dosages.…”