Evening star., 1948-10-15
stors, Men and Atoms
Peniei|Iin Kept in Body
In Form Of Fine Dust
Duration of Drugs Effectiveness
Tripled by New Development
By Thomas r. Henry

By Thomas r. Henry
Penicillin in the form Of very nne dust
which can be inhaled for respiratory infections
like the common cold, and d chemical combina-
ton which retains this drug In the blood
stream three to five times as long as is ordi-
narily the case, have been reported to the
American Medical Association
The penicillin dust was described by DR..
Louis Krasno Of the University of Illinois and
Drs. Mary Karp and Paul s. Rhoads Of North.
western University. First the liquid penicillin
is crystallized by a special process 90 that
the particles are only about nilionth Of an
inch in diameter. This dust IL inhaled from
. container attached to q gas mask or through
. plastic mouth inhaler.
Used to Treat Carriers"
It has proved valuable, the doctors reported.
for practically all infections Of the throat and
lungs due to organisms which are susceptible
to the drug. These include several Of those
causing colds, bronchitis and some pneumonias.
Among its greatest values has been to clear up
the respiratory tracts Of persons carrying germs
OF streptococcic sore throat and pneumonia
which they may give to others, although they
themselves are not sick
The experimenters listed u common throat
organisms whose growth either is stopped alto.
gether or greatly slowed by the dust It proved
satisfactory treatment in 800 out of 36l cases
Of the common cold. It has the ADVANTAGE Of
attacking directly the site Of respiratory infec-
tions, whereas injected penicillin goes through
the whole blood stream and q good deal neces.
sarily goes to waste
An atmosphere filled with this peniciliin dust
should be provided, 1t was stressed, for aged
sick persons, persons In a state of shock after
operations, and all patients Of throat or lung
surgery. to prevent development Of pneumonia.
This is the great killer in such cases.
Drug Rapidly Thrown OF.
One Of the disadvantages OF penicillin Ia
that 1t Is 20 rapidly excreted. Within three
hours, practically all Of given injection has
been lost through the urine. This Is one reason
why repeated doses must be given until Q
patient Is cured.
It Is generally explained that there Is
penicillin carrier Of some sort in the blood
strean-some rs yet unknown body chemical
with . special affinity Yor the drug. moleculs
Of this substance bitches itself to molecule Of
penicillin in q very short time and carries It
Immediately to the tubules Of the kidneys.
Whatever this carrier may be, Drs William p.
Bogen and J. william Crosson Of the Phila.
delphia General Hospital reported, 1t has O
still greater affinity for a newly discovered
chemical compound known as caronamide
Otherwise this material Is physiologically inert
When 1t is mixed with penicillin, they reported.
the carrier bitches itself to the caronamids
and leaves the drug alone. This continues to
circulate in the blood stream.
Commercial Penicillin Employed.
Thus the chief route for the loss Of penicillin
is completely blocked. The blood level Of the
drug Is maintained from u to "a hours. At
the end Of this period 1t Is found to be two to
ten times as great as otherwise would be the
case. ...
Quite recently. they explained. other methods
Of prolonging the penicillin blood level have
been devised, such as combining the drug with
wax and oil. Special preparations are required,
whereas with the caronamide ordinary COM
msrcia penicilin, now easily available every.
where, can be used. -