Sulphanilylbenzamide in the Chemotherapy of Bacillary Dysentery

Abstract

SULPHANILYLGUANIDINE, first described in 1938¹, was recently introduced by Marshall and his colleagues² in the treatment of bacterial infections of the intestinal tract. A subsequent report³ dealt with the successful trials of this compound in acute bacillary dysentery due to Flexner and Sonne types in children. The use of the drug is based on its potent antibacterial properties, its solubility in water and its poor absorption from the gut. We have re–examined a large number of drugs of the sulphanilamide and sulphone classes having similar characteristics and have found two soluble compounds, 4:4'–bis–γ–phenyl–n–propylaminodiphenylsulphone tetrasodium sulphonate and Sulphanilylbenzamide to be more effective in vitro than sulphanilylguanidine. However, when these compounds were incorporated in the diet of mice, only Sulphanilylbenzamide was as efficient as sulphanilylguanidine in its antibacterial action on the coliform organisms of the gut. When fed to rabbits by stomach tube, Sulphanilylbenzamide is poorly absorbed, but it is absorbed to the extent of one and a half times that of sulphanilylguanidine.