title: Metronidazole and spiramycin therapy of mixed Bacteroides spp. and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection in mice.
abstract: The in vitro and in vivo activity of metronidazole and spiramycin, used singly or in combination, was tested in the eradication of infection caused by Bacteroides spp. and Neisseria gonorrhoeae alone or in combination. The in vitro tests consisted of determinations of the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC), carried out with or without the addition of a constant amount of the other antimicrobials. The MIC of both Bacteroides bivius and Bacteroides fragilis for metronidazole were significantly reduced by the addition of spiramycin (from 0.5 to 0.125 micrograms/ml). The in vivo tests were carried out in mice and consisted of measurements of the effects of the antimicrobial agents on the bacterial contents of abscesses induced by subcutaneous injection of bacterial suspension. Synergism between metronidazole and spiramycin was noted against Bacteroides spp. in abscesses caused by either Bacteroides spp. alone, or in combination with N. gonorrhoeae. Furthermore, an additional reduction in the number of N gonorrhoeae was noted in mixed infection with Bacteroides that was treated with metronidazole alone. This study demonstrates the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of the combination of metronidazole and spiramycin in the treatment of infections caused by either Bacteroides spp. alone or in combination with N. gonorrhoeae.
authors.affiliation: Naval Medical Research Institute, Bethesda, Md.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brook
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000187:drug effects; D001442:Bacteroides Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D007933:Leucomycins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D007933:Leucomycins; D008795:Metronidazole