title: Combination therapy with antibiotics and anthrax immune globulin intravenous (AIGIV) is potentially more effective than antibiotics alone in rabbit model of inhalational anthrax.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We have evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of AIGIV when given in combination with levofloxacin and the effective window of treatment to assess the added benefit provided by AIGIV over standard antibiotic treatment alone in a New Zealand white rabbit model of inhalational anthrax.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rabbits were exposed to lethal dose of aerosolized spores of Bacillus anthracis (Ames strain) and treated intravenously with either placebo, (normal immune globulin intravenous, IGIV) or 15 U/kg of AIGIV, along with oral levofloxacin treatment at various time points (30-96 hours) after anthrax exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of treated animals (>88%) survived in both treatment groups when treatment was initiated within 60 hours of post-exposure. However, reduced survival of 55%, 33% and 25% was observed for placebo + levofloxacin group when the treatment was initiated at 72, 84 and 96 hours post-exposure, respectively. Conversely, a survival rate of 65%, 40% and 71% was observed in the AIGIV + levofloxacin treated groups at these time points.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of AIGIV with antibiotics provided an improvement in survival compared to levofloxacin treatment alone when treatment was delayed up to 96 hours post-anthrax exposure. Additionally, AIGIV treatment when given as an adjunct therapy at any of the time points tested did not interfere with the efficacy of levofloxacin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Research, Cangene Corporation, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: Srinivas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kammanadiminti
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Research, Cangene Corporation, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: Ravi Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Patnaikuni
authors.affiliation: Battelle Biomedical Research Center, West Jefferson, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Comer
authors.affiliation: Battelle Biomedical Research Center, West Jefferson, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meister
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Research, Cangene Corporation, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sinclair
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Research, Cangene Corporation, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: Shantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kodihalli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000881:Anthrax / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000276:immunology; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000628:therapy; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D064704:Levofloxacin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D014115:Toxemia / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D064704:Levofloxacin