Therapeutic efficacy of buforin II and rifampin in a rat model of Acinetobacter baumannii sepsis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy of buforin II and rifampin in an experimental rat model of Acinetobacter baumannii sepsis.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized, controlled animal study.


METHODS
Research laboratory in a university hospital.


METHODS
Adult male Wistar rats.


METHODS
The animals received intraperitoneally 1 mL saline containing 2 x 10 colony forming units of A. baumannii ATCC 19606 (model i) or the multiresistant strain (model ii). Immediately after bacterial challenge, animals received intravenously a single dose of isotonic sodium chloride solution (control groups C1 and C2), 1 mg/kg of buforin II, 10 mg/kg of rifampin, and 1 mg/kg of buforin II plus 10 mg/kg of rifampin, respectively.


RESULTS
Lethality, bacterial growth in blood and tissue burden, endotoxin, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentrations in plasma. Buforin II showed good antimicrobial activity and achieved a significant reduction of plasma endotoxin and cytokines concentration when compared with control and rifampin-treated groups. Combination among buforin II proved to be the most effective treatment in reducing all variables measured.


CONCLUSIONS
In an experimental model, buforin II and rifampin might have a potential role in the treatment of severe infections due to A. baumannii.
Cirioni
Oscar
O
Institute of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy. o.cirioni@univpm.it
Silvestri
Carmela
C
Ghiselli
Roberto
R
Orlando
Fiorenza
F
Riva
Alessandra
A
Gabrielli
Eleonora
E
Mocchegiani
Federico
F
Cianforlini
Nancy
N
Trombettoni
Maria Michela Cappelletti
MM
Saba
Vittorio
V
Scalise
Giorgio
G
Giacometti
Andrea
A