Effectiveness of treatment with mezlocillin, ampicillin and latamoxef (moxalactam) of experimental groupB β-haemolytic streptoccal meningitis in rabbits

Abstract

This study compared the effectiveness of treatment with various antibiotics in rabbits with experimental group Bβ-haemolytic streptococcal meningitis. Groups of nine infected rabbits each received the following treatments intramuscularly, three times per day:(1)control–no treatment;(2)mezlocillin–400 mg/kg/– mg/kg/day;(3)mezlocillin–400 mg/kg/day+gentamicin–15 mg/kg/day;(6)latamoxef (moxalactam) –100 mg/kg/day. Bacterial counts in the cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) and drug levels in the serum and CSF were measured each hour for 7h and at 24, 48 and 72 h after start of therapy. Percent penetration values (CSF concentration/serum concentration×100)for the drugs were calculated and effectiveness of bacterial clearing from the CSF was determined. Over the 72h period, the most effective therapy was mezlocillin+gentramicin, followed by ampicillin+gentamicin, mezlocillin, ampicillin and latamoxef in order of effectiveness in clearing bacteria from the CSF