Bactericidal and sterilizing activities of several orally administered combined regimens against Mycobacterium ulcerans in mice

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2008 Jun;52(6):1912-6. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00193-08. Epub 2008 Apr 7.

Abstract

Treatment with rifampin-clarithromycin or moxifloxacin-clarithromycin for 8 weeks displayed promising bactericidal activity against Mycobacterium ulcerans in mice; none of the mice treated with rifampin-clarithromycin relapsed, whereas 59% of those treated with moxifloxacin-clarithromycin relapsed after treatment was stopped. The bactericidal and sterilizing activities of the five-times-weekly (5/7) administration of 5 mg of rifapentine/kg of body weight, either alone or in combination, were virtually identical to those of the corresponding regimens with 10 mg of rifampin/kg of body weight; however, because of the long half-life of rifapentine, accumulation of the drug after 5/7 administration is a concern. The bactericidal activity of 20 mg/kg rifapentine in monotherapy or 20 mg/kg rifapentine in combination with 150 mg/kg streptomycin or 200 mg/kg moxifloxacin administered twice weekly was as effective as the corresponding regimens containing 10 mg/kg rifampin administered 5/7, suggesting that Buruli ulcer might be treated with intermittently administered rifapentine-containing combinations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents* / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Antitubercular Agents* / administration & dosage
  • Antitubercular Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Aza Compounds* / administration & dosage
  • Aza Compounds* / therapeutic use
  • Clarithromycin* / administration & dosage
  • Clarithromycin* / therapeutic use
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Fluoroquinolones
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Moxifloxacin
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / drug therapy*
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / microbiology
  • Mycobacterium ulcerans / drug effects*
  • Mycobacterium ulcerans / growth & development
  • Quinolines* / administration & dosage
  • Quinolines* / therapeutic use
  • Rifampin* / administration & dosage
  • Rifampin* / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Aza Compounds
  • Fluoroquinolones
  • Quinolines
  • Clarithromycin
  • Moxifloxacin
  • Rifampin