Efficacy of imipenem in experimental group B streptococcal bacteremia and meningitis.
We evaluated the activity of imipenem (N-formimidoyl thienamycin) against a type III group B streptococcal strain in vitro and in vivo. The minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of imipenem were 15 mg/l. In vivo studies using an infant rat model of group B streptococcal bacteremia and meningitis revealed that imipenem was highly effective. This was shown by (1) rapid bacterial clearance from the blood and cerebrospinal fluid; (2) rapid sterilization of the blood and cerebrospinal fluid; (3) prevention of the development of meningitis in bacteremic animals, and (4) reduction in mortality. Even 10 mg/kg of imipenem produced the mean serum bactericidal titers greater than 1:100 and cerebrospinal fluid bactericidal titers greater than or equal to 1:16 at 1-2 h after subcutaneous administration. These findings suggest that the activity of imipenem is bactericidal in vitro and in vivo and may be an effective regimen against group B streptococci in this experimental model of bacteremia and meningitis.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000382:microbiology; D015378:Imipenem; D008581:Meningitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D051381:Rats; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000187:drug effects; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D013845:Thienamycins; D015378:Imipenem