title: Activity of combinations of dapsone, rifampin, minocycline, clarithromycin, and sparfloxacin against M. leprae-infected mice.
abstract: In these studies we evaluated the activity of low levels of five antimicrobials against Mycobacterium leprae-infected mice when administered singly and in all possible two- and three-drug combinations. Antibiotics studied were: dapsone (D) 0.0001% in the diet, rifampin (R) 20 mg/kg by gavage once monthly, minocycline (M) 0.004% in the diet, clarithromycin (C) 0.001% in the diet, and sparfloxacin (S) 5 mg/kg by gavage five times weekly. Singly each agent was found bacteriostatic (D + R) or partially bactericidal (M, C, and S) but not fully bactericidal. All 10 two-drug regimens were found at least bacteriostatic, 2 being "partially bactericidal" and 4 being "fully bactericidal." Of the 10 three-drug regimens, 9 were found "fully bactericidal" and the other "partially bactericidal." We conclude that combinations of antibiotics active against M. leprae are generally additive in combination.
authors.affiliation: San Francisco Regional Hansen's Disease Program, California, USA.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Gelber
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Siu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chehl
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003622:Dapsone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D007918:Leprosy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008911:Minocycline / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015363:Quinolones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012293:Rifampin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D015363:Quinolones; D003622:Dapsone; D008911:Minocycline; D017291:Clarithromycin; C061363:sparfloxacin; D012293:Rifampin