title: Dynamics of ceftazidime-pefloxacin interaction shown by a new killing curve-chequerboard method.
abstract: Since in-vitro methods for studying drug interactions are difficult to evaluate and different results occur with the chequerboard (isobolograms-FIC index) and killing curve methods, a new approach associating these two methods was used to study the ceftazidime-pefloxacin interaction. In 64 tubes in a chequerboard pattern, viable bacteria were counted at 0, 2.5, 5 and 24 h, by a microdilution method and a multiple inoculator replicating method. The bacterial inoculum consisted of 5 X 10(6)-10(7) cfu/ml. Twelve strains belonging to six genera were tested: Acinetobacter, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Serratia and Pseudomonas. During the first 5 h no antagonism was noted, but few differences in viable count equal to or greater than 2 log10 were observed. The results of the drug interaction were equivalent to those of the more rapid bactericidal antibiotic concentrations (ceftazidime or pefloxacin). At 24 h, synergy was observed: ceftazidime prevented the late regrowth noted with pefloxacin, but with Citrobacter spp. regrowth was also observed with ceftazidime and none of the combinations were bactericidal.
mesh_terms: D000150:Acinetobacter / Q000187:drug effects; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D002442:Ceftazidime / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002954:Citrobacter / Q000187:drug effects; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004754:Enterobacter / Q000187:drug effects; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009643:Norfloxacin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015366:Pefloxacin; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects; D012706:Serratia marcescens / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015366:Pefloxacin; D002442:Ceftazidime; D009643:Norfloxacin