The study of the inhibitory activity of ribostamvcin (Vistamycin), an antibiotic derived from Streptomyces ribosidificus, on 161 strains of Gram-negative bacilli shows that the antibacterial spectrum of this antibiotic is identical to that of kanamycin. If controlled clinical studies confirm that ribostamycin is less toxic than kanamycin on the otovestibular system, this antibiotic will constitute a real therapeutic advance.