title: Combinations of rifampin or rifabutine plus ethambutol against Mycobacterium avium complex. Bactericidal synergistic, and bacteriostatic additive or synergistic effects.
abstract: Ethambutol, when combined with rifampin or rifabutine (ansamycin, LM427), produced an additive inhibitory effect against most of the tested M avium complex strains (12 of 16 with rifampin, 13 of 16 with rifabutine). The inhibitory effect was synergistic for the remaining 4 of 16 and 3 of 16 strains. This relationship reduced the minimal inhibitory concentrations for each drug in combination. In addition, the minimal bactericidal concentrations of all 3 drugs were reduced because of synergistic bactericidal activity in 6 of 6 strains tested.
authors.affiliation: National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Denver, CO 80206.
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Heifets
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Iseman
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Lindholm-Levy
mesh_terms: D004347:Drug Interactions; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004977:Ethambutol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009162:Mycobacterium avium / Q000187:drug effects*; D017828:Rifabutin; D012293:Rifampin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012294:Rifamycins / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D012294:Rifamycins; D017828:Rifabutin; D004977:Ethambutol; D012293:Rifampin