title: The effects of environmental conditions on the in vitro activity of selected antimicrobial agents against Escherichia coli.
abstract: Various environmental conditions likely to be encountered at a nidus of infection were evaluated for their effect on selected classes of antimicrobial agents. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of several aminoglycosides (apramycin, kanamycin, gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin), tetracycline, and chloramphenicol for five strains of E. coli were unchanged by temperature (35 degrees-39.5 degrees C), atmosphere (aerobic to anaerobic), pH > 7, NaCl concentration (up to 150 mM), zinc concentration (up to 50 mM), and manganese (up to 10 mM). However, the aminoglycoside MICs were increased up to fivefold at pH < 6.5. Magnesium and calcium ion concentrations >10 mM and ferric iron concentrations >/=10 mM increased aminoglycoside MICs from 3.66- to 8-fold. Tetracycline MICs were increased 1.2- to 6.5-fold when the concentration of magnesium or calcium was >/=10 mM. The results of this in vitro study might provide insight into the effects of local in vivo environmental conditions on several classes of antimicrobial agents.
authors.affiliation: College of Graduate Studies, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107 USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nanavaty
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mortensen
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Shryock
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001272:Atmosphere; D002413:Cations, Divalent / Q000494:pharmacology; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013696:Temperature; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002413:Cations, Divalent; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D002701:Chloramphenicol; D013752:Tetracycline