1984 Volume 32 Issue Supplement4 Pages 38-50
The activity of sulbactam as a β-lactamase inhibitor, when combined with cefoperazone, was studied in a variety of bacteria.
Sulbactam by itself has little antibacterial activity against most bacteria, and thus cannot be used alone as a therapeutic agent. However, it has strong activity to inhibit β-lactamases.
When sulbactam and cefoperazone were combined in a ratio of 1:1, marked synergistic activity was obtained against E. coli, K. pneumoniae, Proteus, and B. fragilis.
Sulbactam exhibited strong inhibitory activity against β-lactamases of types 2 to 5 by Richmond's classification, and weak activity against type 1 β-lactamase.
In experimental infections in mice, excellent protective effects were obtained against E. coli, P. vulgaris, and a mixed infection of B. fragilis and E. coli with the combination of sulbactam and cefoperazone, even though neither sulbactam nor cefoperazone was effective by itself.
