title: Bactericidal synergism between beta-lactams and aminoglycosides: mechanism and possible therapeutic implications.
abstract: This work, presented as the introductory lecture of the symposium, reviews the mechanisms of antibiotic action of beta-lactams and of aminoglycosides from a historical perspective and gives emphasis to the features relevant to their synergistic interaction. These features include the limiting effect of penetration of aminoglycosides on the rate of killing; the ability of beta-lactams to increase that penetration, even under conditions where they cannot cause a lethal damage to the cell envelope; and the ability of aminoglycosides to be lethal with a smaller amount of cell growth than is required for killing by beta-lactams. The paper also briefly discusses theoretical arguments favoring a broader use of bactericidal synergism in clinical practice.
mesh_terms: D000617:Aminoglycosides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D010441:Peptide Chain Elongation, Translational / Q000187:drug effects; D010442:Peptide Chain Initiation, Translational / Q000187:drug effects; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000187:drug effects; D047090:beta-Lactams / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000617:Aminoglycosides; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D047090:beta-Lactams