Liquid ventilation with perflubron in the treatment of rats with pneumococcal pneumonia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the efficacy of liquid ventilation using a medical-grade perfluorocarbon (perflubron) combined with parenteral or intratracheal antibiotics in a rat model of pneumonia.


METHODS
Prospective, laboratory investigation.


METHODS
Experimental laboratory in a university medical center.


METHODS
Wistar rats (n = 112).


METHODS
One day after intratracheal inoculation with Streptococcus pneumoniae, rats received one of five experimental treatments or no treatment (control): modified liquid ventilation (MLV), intramuscular ampicillin, MLV plus intramuscular ampicillin, MLV with intratracheal ampicillin, or MLV plus ampicillin PulmoSpheres.


RESULTS
Animals receiving MLV plus intramuscular ampicillin, MLV with intratracheal ampicillin, or MLV plus ampicillin PulmoSpheres had significantly improved 10-day survival rates (85%, 72%, and 72%, respectively) compared with all other groups (0% to 25%).


CONCLUSIONS
MLV in combination with either intramuscular, intratracheal, or PulmoSpheres ampicillin improved survival as compared with MLV alone or the same dose of antibiotics delivered intramuscularly.
Dickson
Eric W
EW
Department of Physiology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, MA 01655, USA. dicksone@ummhc.org
Heard
Stephen O
SO
Tarara
Thomas E
TE
Weers
Jeffry G
JG
Brueggemann
Angela B
AB
Doern
Gary V
GV
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D021061:Liquid Ventilation; D008297:Male; D011018:Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; C003072:perflubron