MYCOBACTERIUM-ULCERANS INFECTION - TREATMENT WITH RIFAMPIN, HYPERBARIC OXYGENATION, AND HEAT

Abstract

The effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO), heat and rifampin for treating mice infected with M. ulcerans was analyzed. Mice (400) were innoculated in the hind footpads with 108 organisms. Seven treatment groups (50 mice each) were HBO (2.5 ATA [atm of absolute pressure] for 1.5 h, twice a day), rifampin (RIF) (20 mg/kg body wt/d), heat (mice maintained at 37.degree. C) and all combinations of the 3 treatments. The severity of infection in treated mice was compared weekly for 20 wk with that of infected controls. The most effective treatments were RIF/heat and RIF/HBO/heat. RIF/HBO/heat treatment was evaluated to determine the effectiveness of treating mice at various stages of infection. Mice (300) were inoculated in the hind footpads and separated into groups (50 mice/group) as the infection progressed, dividing them according to severity of infection. Treatment groups were compared to positive controls. Therapy effectiveness was indirectly proportional to the severity of infection.