In vitro and
in vivo activities of cefazolin (CEZ) and cefmetazole (CMZ) against methicillin resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were studied.
(1) The MIC of CEZ for 54 of 100 strains of
S. aureus isolated in 1985 was 0.39μg/ml and that of CMZ for 59 strains was 1.56μg/ml.
(2) For 11 strains of MRSA, the therapeutic effect (ED
50) of CEZ against systemic infections in mice was similar to that of CMZ although the MICs of CEZ were about two times higher than those of CMZ. Correlation of MIC and ED
50was:
CEZ; log ED
50=0.69log MIC-0.069 (Correlation 0.80)
CMZ; log ED
50=0.85log MICA+0.23 (Correlation 0.55)
These results suggest that the
in vivo activity against
in vitro activity of CEZ was superior to that of CMZ.
(3) The therapeutic effect of CEZ against granuloma pouch infection in rats, pyelonephritis and skin abscess in mice were similar or significantly superior to those of CMZ although the MICs of CEZ were higher than those of CMZ.
(4) The concentrations of CEZ in the serum and kidney of mice and in granuloma pouch exudate of rats were higher and longer lating than those of CMZ.
(5)
The in vitro synergistic effect of sub-MICs of CEZ and PMN leukocytes of rabbits was markedly superior to that of CMZ. Bactericidal effect of CEZ in combination with PMN leukocytes appeared at 1/2 to 1/32 the MICs. In contrast, CMZ was bactericidal at 1/2 to 1/8 the MIC. CEZ was more effective than CMZ when given in combination with PMN leukocytes.
As above-mentioned, although the
in vitro antibacterial activity of CEZ against MRSA was weaker than that of CMZ, the
in vivo therapeutic activity of CEZ against MRSA infections was superior to that of CMZ. This paradoxical phenomenon shows that the good distributions of CEZ in rats and mice and the strong bactericidal activity of CEZ with the aid of phagocytes in the host brought about its excellent therapeutic effect against systemic and local infections with MRSA.
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