title: In vitro susceptibility of Borrelia burgdorferi to 11 antimicrobial agents.
abstract: The in vitro susceptibility of Borrelia burgdorferi to 11 antimicrobial agents was investigated. The antimicrobial agents evaluated included ceftizoxime, FK037, cefotaxime, dirithromycin, clarithromycin and its metabolite 14-hydroxy-clarithromycin, erythromycin, doxycycline, amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin. Isolates of B. burgdorferi tested included two reference strains (B31 and ATCC 53899), six isolates from the midwestern United States, and three from Europe. A broth macrodilution method was used to determine MICs and MBCs. B. burgdorferi was inhibited by < or = 0.5 micrograms of each of the agents except the quinolones per ml. The MBCs for 90% of strains tested of ceftizoxime, FK037, clarithromycin, 14-OH clarithromycin, and dirithromycin (< or = 1.0 microgram of each per ml) were superior to those of amoxicillin (2.0 micrograms/ml) and doxycycline (4.0 micrograms/ml). Further in vivo studies are warranted to determine whether these agents may be efficacious in the treatment of Lyme borreliosis.
authors.affiliation: Section of Infectious Disease, Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois 60612.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Segreti
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Strle
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000187:drug effects*; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000494:pharmacology; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D018942:Macrolides; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins; D018942:Macrolides; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin