The in vitro activity of minocycline, doxycycline, erythromycin, roxithromycin, spiramycin, pefloxacin, and ofloxacin against ten C. trachomatis strains recovered from human genital tract specimens was evaluated. Mac Coy cell monolayers in 24-microwell plates were used. The C. trachomatis inoculum was 10(4) IFU/well. Appropriate dilutions of antibiotic were added and inclusions were detected by immunofluorescence using monoclonal antibodies. MICs were determined after 48 hours of exposure to each antimicrobial. The MIC90 for cyclines was 0.2 mg/l. Among tested macrolides, roxithromycin had a lower MIC than erythromycin (0.2 versus 0.4 mg/l) whereas spiramycin inhibited growth only in a concentration of 2 mg/l. Ofloxacin showed better activity than pefloxacin. Bactericidal activity was evaluated by determining two parameters: MBC1 (without transfer to new cells) measured the ability of a C. trachomatis particle to persist in a latent form within cells exposed to an antibiotic and to grow again following removal of the antibiotic, whereas MBC2 (with transfer to new cells) reflected infectivity of the bacteria after 48 hours exposure to the antimicrobial. None of the tested antibiotics was bactericidal according to both parameters. The ability of C. trachomatis to remain within antibiotic-exposed cells in a latent form was clearly demonstrated by the high MBC1 values. This feature may explain why recurrences are common in clinical practice.