DRUG USAGE AND ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY OF STAPHYLOCOCCI

A technique whereby a given strain of bacteria can be tested for sensitivity against 12 to 15 antibiotics simultaneously on a single plate was used in a study of resistance to drugs among staphylococci cultured from hospital inpatients and outpatients. Within the period 1955 through 1959, resistance to penicillin changed but little from the level of 60 to 80% previously attained. Resistance to streptomycin remained stable at about 55%. Resistance to tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, and erythromyc