title: Effect of High N-Acetylcysteine Concentrations on Antibiotic Activity against a Large Collection of Respiratory Pathogens.
abstract: The effect of high N-acetylcysteine (NAC) concentrations (10 and 50 mM) on antibiotic activity against 40 strains of respiratory pathogens was investigated. NAC compromised the activity of carbapenems (of mostly imipenem and, to lesser extents, meropenem and ertapenem) in a dose-dependent fashion. We demonstrated chemical instability of carbapenems in the presence of NAC. With other antibiotics, 10 mM NAC had no major effects, while 50 mM NAC sporadically decreased (ceftriaxone and aminoglycosides) or increased (penicillins) antibiotic activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Landini
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Di Maggio
authors.affiliation: Corporate Respiratory Medical Affairs, Zambon S.p.A., Bresso, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sergio
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Jean-Denis
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Docquier
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.|Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.|Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, Florence Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.|Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Gian Maria
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Rossolini
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy lucia.pallecchi@unisi.it.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7999-5140
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pallecchi
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000617:Aminoglycosides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004347:Drug Interactions; D016972:Enterobacter cloacae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000077727:Ertapenem; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D015378:Imipenem / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000077731:Meropenem; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010406:Penicillins / Q000819:agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047090:beta-Lactams / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000617:Aminoglycosides; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D010406:Penicillins; D013845:Thienamycins; D047090:beta-Lactams; D015378:Imipenem; D002443:Ceftriaxone; D000077731:Meropenem; D000077727:Ertapenem; D000111:Acetylcysteine