Comparative efficacy of five antibiotics on experimental airborne legionellosis in guinea-pigs.

Abstract

The efficacy of preventive and curative treatment of experimental airborne legionellosis in guinea-pigs was studied for erythromycin, rifampicin, minocycline, doxycycline and pefloxacin. The aerosol was produced from a strain of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 and dispersed in a chamber maintained below atmospheric pressure. Guinea-pigs were exposed for 30 min to 1 or 10 LD50 (10(3) or 10(4) viable inhaled organisms). Treatment was preventive or curative. Antibiotic concentrations in lungs and serum were evaluated during treatment. The action of the antibiotics on guinea-pigs infected by 1 LD50 resulted in 100% survival. For the 10 LD50 infection, pefloxacin, minocycline and erythromycin were more active (with 87.5% survivors) than doxycycline (75%) and rifampicin (62.5%). Preventive treatment with pefloxacin or doxycycline gave 100% protection, compared with 87.5% for rifampicin, 50% for erythromycin and 37.5% for minocycline. In this study, treatment of experimental legionellosis was improved, compared with previous publications, by early administration of antibiotics and increased dosage and duration.

• Authors: M Nowicki, J C Paucod, N Bornstein, H Meugnier, P Isoard, J Fleurette
• Journal: The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy (J Antimicrob Chemother) Vol. 22 Issue 4 Pg. 513-9 (Oct 1988) ISSN: 0305-7453 [Print] England
• PMID: 3204078 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Guinea Pigs
• Legionnaires' Disease (drug therapy, prevention & control)
• Lethal Dose 50
• Male
• Time Factors