Penicillinase-resistant penicillin/gentamicin synergism. Effect in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. 1979

J H Licht

Gentamicin sulfate has been shown to enhance the effects of penicillinase-resistant penicillins against clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus in vitro, but the relevance of this observation to bacteremic patients is unclear. Therefore, serum samples from 14 patients with staphylococcal bacteremia were tested for growth inhibitory and bactericidal effects against the patients' own pathogen while they received a penicillinase-resistant penicillin alone, and again when gentamicin was added to the therapeutic regimen. Addition of gentamicin in vivo was associated with slight improvement in growth inhibitory activity but it caused profound increases in serum bactericidal activity. This effect could not be attributed to higher serum levels of penicillinase-resistant penicillin during gentamicin administration. Addition of gentamicin to penicillinase-resistant penicillin can lead to marked improvement in a patient's serum bactericidal activity against his own staphylococcal pathogen, and should be considered for any patient who does not respond to more conventional therapy.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008712 Methicillin One of the PENICILLINS which is resistant to PENICILLINASE but susceptible to a penicillin-binding protein. It is inactivated by gastric acid so administered by injection. Penicillin, Dimethoxyphenyl,Methicillin Hydrate, Monosodium Salt,Methicillin Monohydrate, Monosodium Salt,Methicillin Sodium,Meticillin,Metin,Staphcillin,Dimethoxyphenyl Penicillin
D008826 Microbial Sensitivity Tests Any tests that demonstrate the relative efficacy of different chemotherapeutic agents against specific microorganisms (i.e., bacteria, fungi, viruses). Bacterial Sensitivity Tests,Drug Sensitivity Assay, Microbial,Minimum Inhibitory Concentration,Antibacterial Susceptibility Breakpoint Determination,Antibiogram,Antimicrobial Susceptibility Breakpoint Determination,Bacterial Sensitivity Test,Breakpoint Determination, Antibacterial Susceptibility,Breakpoint Determination, Antimicrobial Susceptibility,Fungal Drug Sensitivity Tests,Fungus Drug Sensitivity Tests,Sensitivity Test, Bacterial,Sensitivity Tests, Bacterial,Test, Bacterial Sensitivity,Tests, Bacterial Sensitivity,Viral Drug Sensitivity Tests,Virus Drug Sensitivity Tests,Antibiograms,Concentration, Minimum Inhibitory,Concentrations, Minimum Inhibitory,Inhibitory Concentration, Minimum,Inhibitory Concentrations, Minimum,Microbial Sensitivity Test,Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations,Sensitivity Test, Microbial,Sensitivity Tests, Microbial,Test, Microbial Sensitivity,Tests, Microbial Sensitivity
D009254 Nafcillin A semi-synthetic antibiotic related to penicillin. Naphthamidopenicillin,Sodium Nafcillin,Nafcil,Nafcillin Sodium,Nafcillin, Monosodium Salt, Anhydrous,Nafcillin, Sodium,Sodium, Nafcillin
D010403 Penicillin Resistance Nonsusceptibility of an organism to the action of penicillins. Penicillin Resistances,Resistance, Penicillin,Resistances, Penicillin
D001770 Blood Bactericidal Activity The natural bactericidal property of BLOOD due to normally occurring antibacterial substances such as beta lysin, leukin, etc. This activity needs to be distinguished from the bactericidal activity contained in a patient's serum as a result of antimicrobial therapy, which is measured by a SERUM BACTERICIDAL TEST. Activities, Blood Bactericidal,Activity, Blood Bactericidal,Bactericidal Activities, Blood,Bactericidal Activity, Blood,Blood Bactericidal Activities
D004357 Drug Synergism The action of a drug in promoting or enhancing the effectiveness of another drug. Drug Potentiation,Drug Augmentation,Augmentation, Drug,Augmentations, Drug,Drug Augmentations,Drug Potentiations,Drug Synergisms,Potentiation, Drug,Potentiations, Drug,Synergism, Drug,Synergisms, Drug
D004359 Drug Therapy, Combination Therapy with two or more separate preparations given for a combined effect. Combination Chemotherapy,Polychemotherapy,Chemotherapy, Combination,Combination Drug Therapy,Drug Polytherapy,Therapy, Combination Drug,Chemotherapies, Combination,Combination Chemotherapies,Combination Drug Therapies,Drug Polytherapies,Drug Therapies, Combination,Polychemotherapies,Polytherapies, Drug,Polytherapy, Drug,Therapies, Combination Drug
D005839 Gentamicins A complex of closely related aminoglycosides obtained from MICROMONOSPORA purpurea and related species. They are broad-spectrum antibiotics, but may cause ear and kidney damage. They act to inhibit PROTEIN BIOSYNTHESIS. Gentamicin Sulfate (USP),Gentamycin,G-Myticin,Garamycin,Gentacycol,Gentamicin,Gentamicin Sulfate,Gentamycins,Gentavet,Genticin,G Myticin,GMyticin,Sulfate, Gentamicin
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013203 Staphylococcal Infections Infections with bacteria of the genus STAPHYLOCOCCUS. Infections, Staphylococcal,Staphylococcus aureus Infection,Staphylococcal Infection,Staphylococcus aureus Infections

Related Publications

Copied contents to your clipboard!