title: Activity of clarithromycin against Mycobacterium avium complex infection in beige mice.
abstract: The activity of clarithromycin alone and in combination with other antimycobacterial agents was evaluated in the beige (C57BL/6J bgj/bgj) mouse model of disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection. A dose-response experiment was performed with clarithromycin at 50, 100, 200, or 300 mg/kg of body weight administered daily by gavage to mice infected with approximately 10(7) viable MAC. A dose-related reduction in spleen and liver cell counts was noted with treatment at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg. The difference in cell counts between treatment at 200 and 300 mg/kg was not significant. Clarithromycin at 200 mg/kg of body weight was found to have activity against three additional MAC isolates (MICs for the isolates ranged from 1 to 4 micrograms/ml by broth dilution). Clarithromycin at 200 mg/kg in combination with amikacin, ethambutol, temafloxacin, or rifampin did not result in increased activity beyond that seen with clarithromycin alone. Clarithromycin in combination with clofazimine or rifabutin resulted in an increase in activity beyond that seen with clarithromycin alone. The combination of clarithromycin with clofazimine or rifabutin should be considered for evaluation in the treatment of human MAC infections.
authors.affiliation: State University of New York Health Science Center, Syracuse.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Klemens
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: DeStefano
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Cynamon
mesh_terms: D000583:Amikacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002991:Clofazimine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004977:Ethambutol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009162:Mycobacterium avium / Q000187:drug effects; D015269:Mycobacterium avium Complex / Q000187:drug effects*; D015363:Quinolones / Q000494:pharmacology; D017828:Rifabutin; D012293:Rifampin / Q000494:pharmacology; D012294:Rifamycins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D015363:Quinolones; D012294:Rifamycins; D017828:Rifabutin; C054745:temafloxacin; D000583:Amikacin; D004977:Ethambutol; D002991:Clofazimine; D017291:Clarithromycin; D012293:Rifampin