Effects of Amoxicillin Subinhibitory Concentrations on the Cross-Protection Developed by Pneumococcal Antibodies in Mouse Sepsis Caused by an Amoxicillin-Resistant Serotype 6B Streptococcus pneumoniae Strain

AUTOR(ES)
FONTE

American Society for Microbiology

RESUMO

A model of mouse sepsis caused by a serotype 6B Streptococcus pneumoniae strain (amoxicillin MIC of 8 μg/ml) was developed to investigate the therapeutic effect of an amoxicillin dose (3.12 mg/kg of body weight three times daily for 48 h) producing, over the whole treatment period, subinhibitory concentrations in serum (peak concentration [Cmax]: 6.1 μg/ml) in animals that prior to infection had been passively immunized with a 6B or 23F hyperimmune serum (obtained by immunization with a whole-cell heat-inactivated inoculum and diluted to produce no protective effect by itself). Mortality in nonimmunized animals treated with antibiotic (3.12 mg/kg) was 90%, and mortality in animals immunized but not treated with the antibiotic was 100%. Antibiotic treatment in immunized animals produced mortality rates ≤20% when the hyperimmune serum was used, thus showing cross-protection and synergism (defined as the situation in which there is no response to the single agents [no differences versus placebo] while the combination exhibits significant activity) with subinhibitory concentrations of the antibiotic. The presence of antipneumococcal antibodies allowed antibiotic efficacy with negligible values of pharmacodynamic parameters (Cmax/MIC ratio of <1 and thus a null value for the time that serum levels exceed the MIC). This in vivo synergism offers a potential therapeutic strategy against resistant strains.

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

Documentos Relacionados