§ 12. Dr. Strossasked the Minister of Health the extent of the emergence of strains of diseases which are now resistant to the common antibiotics such as penicillin; and what is the extent to which uncontrollable allergies to penicillin are appearing.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithMy right hon. Friend is advised that it has been established that strains resistant to penicillin, and in varying degree to certain other antibiotics, are emerging—and that allergies to penicillin are appearing, although it is not yet certain how far any of these is uncontrollable. My right hon. Friend is afraid, however, that he is not at present competent to give any more detailed figures or particulars in these matters.
§ Dr. StrossWould it not be desirable, however, that more research should be undertaken in order that we might obtain more varied types of new antibiotics and, at the same time, possibly, a greater discrimination in their use in the future than we have had in the past?
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithMy right hon. Friend's medical advisers have been studying the research which has been going on in this field for the last three years, and we are in the closest touch with all the research that has been conducted in this matter.