title: In vitro, ex-vivo and in vivo activities of ethambutol and sparfloxacin alone and in combination against mycobacteria.
abstract: The MIC of ethambutol and sparfloxacin for Mycobacterium smegmatis and M. avium was determined using a broth dilution method. The MICs of sparfloxacin and ethambutol were lower for M. smegmatis than M. avium. The combination of ethambutol and sparfloxacin was additive against M. smegmatis but synergistic for M. avium. The effect of these drugs alone and in combination used at C(max) levels was screened against M. avium and M. tuberculosis H(37)Rv growing intracellularly in murine macrophage cell lines. In vivo studies using this combination given at 100 mg/kg of body weight once weekly showed greater activity than the drugs used singly. These results suggest that combination of ethambutol and sparfloxacin has significant activity intracellularly and in animal models against M. avium and M. tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, 160 012, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Khuller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004977:Ethambutol / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000188:drug therapy; D009162:Mycobacterium avium / Q000187:drug effects*; D020102:Mycobacterium smegmatis / Q000187:drug effects*; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D004977:Ethambutol; C061363:sparfloxacin