title: Lack of activities of amikacin and sulphamethoxazole against Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare.
abstract: Twenty clinical isolates of Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare were tested with amikacin and sulphamethoxazole for in-vitro susceptibilities. The MICs and MBCs of the former drug ranged from 8 to > 64 mg/L (median MIC: 64 mg/L, median MBC: > 64 mg/L). The MICs and MBCs of the latter drug were found to be > 256 mg/L. Each of eight patients with invasive pulmonary disease due to these organisms was treated with amikacin for six months and with cotrimoxazole (sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim) for one year. Only one patient had sustained bacteriological conversion. Three patients showed a transient reduction of bacillary load during the period of amikacin administration. The rest all failed to show response. Thus sulphamethoxazole was found to have no activity against Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare, and amikacin has doubtful activity when used alone in treatment of M. avium-intracellulare infection.
authors.affiliation: Tuberculosis & Chest Unit, Grantham Hospital, Aberdeen, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Yew
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000583:Amikacin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009162:Mycobacterium avium / Q000187:drug effects*; D015270:Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / Q000188:drug therapy; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; D000583:Amikacin; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole