[Problems in the use of antibiotics and chemotherapeutics]

Antibiotics are of the greatest utility for the patient, but are sometimes troubling for the physician. The Author, from a standpoint different from that of the pharmacologist, speak about the many things that should be kept in mind whenever a treatment with such drugs must to be performed. Only so a therapy can be safe and effective.. The Author suggest a syndromic approach to recognize which is the causative agent of the current disease, and of consequence, which is the drug of choice. Antibiotics and chemiotherapeutic agents are briefly examined in their usefulness, limitations and side-effect. The new drugs, not yet available in Italy, are cited.