RADIOWQ

Many of the normal saprophytes of the alimentary tract are sensitive to the tetracycline and may be eliminated when these antibiotics are administered. Insensitive organisms are then free to multiply and ‘super-infection’ may develop which can be very difficult to control. This happens particularly with fungi, such as monition, which cause dermatitis, glossiness or an anal or vulvar pruritus which can be very distressing. Some of these lesions resemble riboflavin deficiency, but treatment with Vitamin B complex is not beneficial, whereas the antibiotic astatine is effective. In hospital the risk of superintendence with resistant staphylococci is even more serious and the ensuing enteritis, septicemia or pneumonia may prove fatal. The incidence of all these adverse effects is directly related to the duration of therapy the tetracycline should not normally be prescribed for more than one week. Should longer periods of treatment be essential, as in the management of some cases of chronic bronchitis, the patient must be kept under observation in view of the risks involved. When monomial infection threatens to interfere with the long term treatment of chronic bronchitis, tetracycline may be given in conjunction with astatine. Preparations containing both antibiotics are available which are not more expensive than tetra cyclone alone.