Treatment of experimental Pneumocystis carinii infection by combination of clarithromycin and sulphamethoxazole.

Abstract

The efficacy of clarithomycin and sulphamethoxazole for treatment of experimental Pneumocystis carinii infection was investigated. Rats were immunosuppressed with dexamethasone and inoculated intratracheally with 5 x 10(6) P. carinii cysts. After 2 weeks, the lung tissues were assayed for P. carinii cyst burden. The combination of clarithromycin and sulphamethoxazole caused a significantly greater reduction in cyst burden than either drug alone. Up to 50% of the rats treated with the combination of clarithromycin and sulphamethoxazole were negative for P. carinii cysts. Equivalent doses of the individual drugs given alone did not produce cures. The combination of clarithromycin and sulphamethoxazole was more than twice as effective as either drug alone. Clarithromycin combined with sulphamethoxazole in treatment of P. carinii infection could be especially useful since clarithromycin monotherapy provides safe and effective treatment against many other pathogens, including several that are associated with AIDS.

• Authors: J Alder, M Mitten, N Shipkowitz, L Hernandez, Y H Hui, K Marsh, J Clement
• Journal: The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy (J Antimicrob Chemother) Vol. 33 Issue 2 Pg. 253-63 (Feb 1994) ISSN: 0305-7453 [Print] England
• PMID: 8182006 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Pentamidine
• Dexamethasone
• Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination
• Clarithromycin
• Sulfamethoxazole

Topics

• Animals
• Clarithromycin (pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use)
• Dexamethasone (pharmacology)
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Humans
• Immunosuppression Therapy
• Male
• Pentamidine (therapeutic use)
• Pneumonia, Pneumocystis (drug therapy)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Sulfamethoxazole (pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use)
• Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination (therapeutic use)