ANTIBIOTIC THERAPY OF ENDOGENOUS AND EXPERIMENTAL INFECTIONS IN X- IRRADIATED MICE
The influence of single sublethal and lethal wholebody x irradiation on autochthonous infections and on infections induced by Salmonella and pneumococci in white mice was investigated. The mice were kept separately in jars under optimal conditons, LD/sub 50/30// was 560 r. The course of the infection and the radiation syndrome was studied by weight changes, severity of symptoms, mortality rates within 30 days, survival times, bacteriological autopsies and cultures from tailblood, feces and mucous membranes during life. The mice were usually exposed 4 days before or after inoculation, and subcutaneous treatment started one day before or after inoculation. The normal flora of the throat and bowel consisted mostly of a mixture of E. coli and streptococci. The mice were never contaminated with Pseudomonas, Proteus or Salmonella, and neither latent nor overt enzooties cccurred. The numher of bacteria was reduced by antibiotics but not completely eradicated. Exposure to 550 to 700 r resulted in deaths during the second week after irradiation, sometimes preceded by infections caused by the normal intestintal and respiratory tract inhabitants. Antibiotic treatment, which was usually started 4 days after irradiation, did not reduce the death rate but caused a moderate increase in the survival time. Streptomycin and tetracycline had the greatest effect as they were able to some extent to inhibit bacterial spread and prevent bacteraemia. In mice exposed to 350 r 4 to 5 days before feeding with S. paratyphi B the infection tended to spread from mesenteric lymph gland to spleen. Exposure to 450 r 1 to 7 days before parenteral infection sometimes led to a bacteraemia. Antibioiics provided no protection. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Statens Seruminstitut, Copenhagen
- NSA Number:
- NSA-13-006218
- OSTI ID:
- 4288524
- Report Number(s):
- A/CONF.15/P/1509
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
THE TREATMENT OF ACUTELY X-IRRADIATED MICE WITH STREPTOMYCIN AND DERIVATIVES OF 6-AMINOPENICILLANIC ACID
Antibiotic radioprotection of mice exposed to supralethal whole-body irradiation independent of antibacterial activity. [Gamma radiation, streptomycin, kanamycin, neomycin, gentamycin]