title: Comparative in vitro activities of clarithromycin, azithromycin, and erythromycin against Borrelia burgdorferi.
abstract: The in vitro activities of the macrolide antibiotics clarithromycin, 14-hydroxy-clarithromycin, azithromycin, and erythromycin against 19 isolates of Borrelia burgdorferi were investigated. MICs ranged from 0.003 to 0.03 microgram of clarithromycin per ml, 0.007 to 0.03 microgram of 14-hydroxyclarithromycin per ml, 0.003 to 0.03 microgram of azithromycin per ml, and 0.007 to 0.06 microgram of erythromycin per ml. Time-kill studies using the B31 strain of B. burgdorferi demonstrated a > or = 3-log10-unit killing after 72 h with each of the macrolide antibiotics tested in concentrations representing twice the respective MICs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284-7881.
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Dever
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jorgensen
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Barbour
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000187:drug effects*; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013987:Ticks; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004917:Erythromycin; D017963:Azithromycin; D017291:Clarithromycin