Moxifloxacin versus ampicillin + gentamicin in the therapy of experimental Listeria monocytogenes meningitis.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to compare the antibacterial activity of moxifloxacin and ampicillin + gentamicin in the treatment of Listeria monocytogenes meningitis in a rabbit meningitis model.


METHODS
Meningitis was induced by direct inoculation of a clinical strain isolated from an immunocompromised patient (10(7) cfu/mL) into the cisterna magna of New Zealand rabbits. After 16 h of incubation, rabbits were separated into four groups: moxifloxacin (M), ampicillin + gentamicin (A), ampicillin + gentamicin 2 (A2) and control (C). Group M received 20 mg/kg moxifloxacin at the end of the incubation time and 5 h later by intravenous (i.v.) route. Group A received ampicillin (30 mg/kg/h) and gentamicin (2.5 mg/kg/h) by i.v. route with continuous infusion for 8 h in 36 mL of 0.9% NaCl, group A2 received the same dosage of gentamicin and ampicillin in two different 36 mL 0.9% NaCl solutions and group C did not receive any treatment. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples (0.1-0.25 mL) were obtained 16 and 24 h after induction of meningitis.


RESULTS
At the end of the 16 h of incubation, CSF bacterial counts were similar in all groups (P > 0.05). At the final stage of the study (24 h after induction of meningitis), bacterial counts in all treatment groups were significantly lower than the control group (P < 0.05). When the three treatment groups were compared, bacterial counts were found to be similar (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that antibacterial activity of moxifloxacin is similar to ampicillin + gentamicin in the treatment of experimental L. monocytogenes meningitis of rabbits.
Sipahi
Oguz Resat
OR
Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey. oguz.resat.sipahi@ege.edu.tr
Turhan
Tuncer
T
Pullukcu
Husnu
H
Calik
Sebnem
S
Tasbakan
Meltem
M
Sipahi
Hilal
H
Arda
Bilgin
B
Yamazhan
Tansu
T
Ulusoy
Sercan
S
D000667:Ampicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D001372:Aza Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008584:Meningitis, Listeria / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000077266:Moxifloxacin; D011804:Quinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011817:Rabbits
D001372:Aza Compounds; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D005839:Gentamicins; D011804:Quinolines; D000667:Ampicillin; D000077266:Moxifloxacin