Streptomycin in Tuberculous Meningitis

Tuberculous meningitis is universally considered to be a fatal disease. Examples of spontaneous recovery have been reported, but they are rare and complete laboratory confirmation in most of these is lacking. In January, 1944, Schatz, Bugie, and Waksman2 reported the isolation of streptomycin. In November, 1944, Schatz and Waksmat3 demonstrated its marked bacteriostatic and bactericidal action against a human strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro. In December, 1944, Feldman and Hinshaw' first showed the suppressive effect of streptomycin on "the pathogenic proclivities in guinea pigs of the human variety of Mycobacterium tuberculosis." The following case is cdescribed 'because ( 1 ) the use of streptomycin in the treatment of human tuberculous meningitis has not been reported, (2) streptomycin seemed to modify favorably the course of the disease, and (3) this is the first detailed report of the administration of streptomycin by the intrathecal route.