title: Effects of hyperbaric oxygen on Pseudomonas aeruginosa susceptibility to imipenem and macrophages.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The seriousness to treat burn wounds infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa led us to examine whether the effect of the carbapenem antibiotic imipenem is enhanced by hyperbaric oxygen (HBO).
  
  
  METHODS
  The effects of HBO (100% O2, 3 ATA, 5 h) in combination with imipenen on bacterial counts of six isolates of P. aeruginosa and bacterial ultrastructure were investigated. Infected macrophages were exposed to HBO (100% O2, 3 ATA, 90 min) and the production of reactive oxygen species monitored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HBO enhanced the effects of imipenen. HBO increased superoxide anion production by macrophages and likely kills bacteria by oxidative mechanisms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HBO in combination with imipenem can be used to kill P. aeruginosa in vitro and such treatment may be beneficial for the patients with injuries containing the P. aeruginosa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flavia Luna
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Paulo Pinto
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Joazeiro
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lancellotti
authors.forename: Luciana Maria
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: de Hollanda
authors.forename: Bruna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de Araújo Lima
authors.forename: Edlaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Linares
authors.forename: Ohara
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Augusto
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brocchi
authors.forename: Selma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giorgio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D015378:Imipenem / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D051379:Mice; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013481:Superoxides; D015378:Imipenem
keywords: Pseudomonas aeruginosa; free radicals; hyperbaric oxygen; imipenem; macrophages; superoxide anion