Abstract
The efficacy of orally given bicyclomycin on shigellosis was studied in rhesus monkeys infected with Shigella flexneri 2a. All the animals developed lethal infection after rectal inoculation of the virulent strain 5503. Bicyclomycin and the kanamycin control were given orally at daily dosage of 40 mg/kg for a period of 5 days beginning 24 hours after the inoculation. Bicyclomycin compared favorably with kanamycin in respect to 1) the time required for termination of bloody mucous feces, restoration of normal feces, and disappearance of Shigella bacilli from feces and 2) the absenceof the bacilli from intestinal tissues at autopsy. This experiment was preceded by a fundamental study, which revealed satisfactory activity of bicyclomycin against various Shigella species (MIC: 6.25-25 mcg/ml) and good stability and excretion in feces. These data demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of bicyclomycin in intestinal infections.
