Protective effect of polymyxin B sulfate in experimental meningococcal infection in mice

Abstract

The mouse model of i.p. meningococcal sepsis was used to evaluate the antiendotoxic activity of polymyxin B sulfate independent of its antibiotic effects. Administered before or after the infective challenge, therapeutic doses of polymyxin B sulfate produced small but significant increases in survival over unprotected animals. Endotoxin apparently contributes to the outcome in this variety of gram-negative infection.