[N-formimidoyl-thienamycin: in vitro activity in bacteria with resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics or gentamicin]

Phagocytic function and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity of human neutrophils in the presence of N-formimidoyl thienamycin

The efficacy of an antibiotic in the treatment of bacterial infections depends upon the interactions of the drug, bacteria and phagocytes. We have studied "in vitro" the effect of N-formimidoyl thienamycin (Imipenem), a novel beta-lactamic antibiotic, on the phagocytic function and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity of human neutrophil leukocytes. The incubation of these cells with 50 micrograms/ml of Imipenem similar to the therapeutic levels reached in plasma results in an increase of their adherence capacity to nylon fiber and to substrate, induced mobility or chemotaxis, opsonization, phagocytosis of Candida albicans (with serum, with decomplementarized serum and without serum) and latex beads, candidicidal power and the capacity of NBT reduction. Imipenem at this dose also presents chemoattractant power for neutrophils and enhances the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC).

Imipenem: a new carbapenem antibiotic

Imipenem is a new carbapenem antibiotic that has an extremely broad spectrum of antibacterial activity. It has been used to treat a variety of serious infections and an increasing volume of literature documents its value in infections due to multiresistant bacteria. This article reviews the antibacterial activity, pharmacology, and clinical uses of imipenem.

Imipenem/cilastatin. A review of its antibacterial activity, pharmacokinetic properties and therapeutic efficacy

Imipenem is the first available semisynthetic thienamycin and is administered intravenously in combination with cilastatin, a renal dipeptidase inhibitor that increases urinary excretion of active drug. In vitro studies have demonstrated that imipenem has an extremely wide spectrum of antibacterial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, even against many multiresistant strains of bacteria. It is very potent against species which elaborate beta-lactamases. Imipenem in combination with equal doses of cilastatin has been shown to be generally well tolerated and an effective antimicrobial for the treatment of infections of various body systems. It is likely to be most valuable as empirical treatment of mixed aerobic and anaerobic infections, bacteraemia in non-neutropenic patients and serious hospital-acquired infections.

Comparative determination of minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of ciprofloxacin, cefotaxime and HR 810 for gram-negative bacteria either sensitive or resistant to ureidopenicillins and/or gentamicin

The minimal inhibitory (MIC) and minimal bactericidal (MBC) concentrations of ciprofloxacin were compared with those of the cephalosporins HR 810 and cefotaxime in 250 strains from 10 species of Gram-negative bacteria with sensitivity or resistance to gentamicin and/or piperacillin. Ciprofloxacin had an inhibitory activity higher than, or practically equal to the best of the two cephalosporins. The MBC of ciprofloxacin was more often less than or equal to twice the MIC than with the beta-lactam antibiotics. Parallel resistance was found with pipemidic acid as representative of DNA-gyrase inhibitors. No direct parallel resistance was observed with resistance to gentamicin, piperacillin or cefotaxime.