CHEMOTHERAPY IN NONSPECIFIC INFECTIONS OF THE URINARY TRACT: PRESENT STATUS

During the last ten years there has been remarkable advancement in diagnostic and operative procedures in urology. Revolutionary changes in the treatment of infections of the urinary tract now command our attention. Ten years ago the urologist was content to treat these infections expectantly or by administering drugs now believed to be of questionable efficacy. Intravenous neoarsphenamine in the treatment of coccic infection was perhaps the only specific drug therapy. In 1932 the ketogenic diet with the discovery of the bactericidal action of oxybutyric acid was the first step toward specific therapy in bacillus infections. However, many patients could not tolerate this unappetizing, nauseating diet. The following year specific bacteriophage was tried, but this met with very little success. In 1936 the first specific drug therapy, mandelic acid, was instituted in the treatment of infections of the urinary tract. It is bactericidal for most infections with Streptococcus faecalis and from