Effect of clinically relevant culture conditions on antimicrobial susceptibility of Chlamydia trachomatis.
Infection of polarized human endometrial-gland epithelial cells obtained at hysterectomy with Chlamydia trachomatis serovar E may provide a relevant in vitro model for studies of pharmacokinetics in genital chlamydial infections. The minimal bactericidal concentration of azithromycin against C. trachomatis was lower in this model than in studies with nonpolarized cells (0.125 and 0.5 mg/L, respectively). Polarized cells also internalized more azithromycin over 24 hours. The results indicate that the eradication of chlamydial infections may be difficult to prove by antigen detection methods: the persistence of chlamydial envelope material within the intracellular vacuoles of azithromycin-treated cells may lead to a false-positive diagnosis of persisting chlamydial infection.
Wyrick
P B
PB
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill 27599-7290.
Davis
C H
CH
Raulston
J E
JE
Knight
S T
ST
Choong
J
J
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016764:Cell Polarity; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents