In vivo effect of teicoplanin and vancomycin upon haemolytic and bactericidal activity of serum against Staphylococcus aureus.
The present study was undertaken to determine whether teicoplanin and vancomycin influence the hemolytic and bactericidal activity of serum obtained from mice (Swiss, aged 15 +/- 2 weeks). Haemolytic activity was measured in CH-50 units (which represents the capacity of serum complement to lyse 50% of sheep red blood cells in the presence of specific antibody) and the bactericidal activity was estimated from the number of colony-forming units (CFU/ml) of Staphylococcus aureus that survived after 24 h of incubation in the presence of serum. The results indicate that (1) teicoplanin and vancomycin increase the haemolytic activity of serum; (2) in the serum from animals treated with both teicoplanin or vancomycin, the number of CFU/ml of Staphylococcus aureus declines; and (3) these antibiotics appear to have a similar effect upon the complement system.
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain.
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Rodríguez
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MI
Pedrera
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Barriga
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D003167:Complement Activation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D003170:Complement Pathway, Alternative / Q000187:drug effects; D003171:Complement Pathway, Classical / Q000187:drug effects; D006461:Hemolysis; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D017334:Teicoplanin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017334:Teicoplanin; D014640:Vancomycin