Terramycin in trachoma.

Comparatively few papers have been published on the results achieved by treating trachoma with terramycin, but Bietti (1953), Bengisu Naci (1952), and Mitsui (1951) have published the results of their researches. The Japanese have been the most frequent users of terramycin in trachoma. Mitsui and others (1951) administered this antibiotic in seven hundred cases, 80 per cent. of which were reported to have been cured. These clinical findings were corroborated by their laboratory work. Inclusion bodies disappeared after a few days; histopathological analyses showed improvement; pannus disappeared after 6-10 days. Bengisu Naci (1952) treated ten patients with terramycin capsules, drops, and ointment, and later treated a hundred children, administering terramycin ointment five times a day. Laboratory and clinical control was introduced before and after the treatment. Bietti (1953) treated 206 eyes with terramycin, and thought that it influenced the virus. Good results with terramycin were obtained by Izzet (1951) in Turkey, and by Geraci (1951) in Italy. Rals (1950) investigated cases of pure trachoma and also cases in which trachoma was combined with conjunctivitis. Naccache (1953) treated 38 patients by oral administration and locally, without any toxic or allergic symptoms. Siniscal (1952) asserted that terramycin produced an effect only in cases of superinfection. Very good results were achieved by Town (1951) and Thygeson (1951), and moderate results by Focosi (1953), Lepri (1951), and Caterini and De Vincentiis (1951).