EFFECT OF BETA-LACTAMASE INHIBITORS ON NORMAL IMMUNE CAPABILITIES ANDTHEIR INTERACTIONS WITH STAPHYLOCOCCAL PATHOGENICITY

The effects of the beta-lactamase inhibitors, clavulanic acid, sulbact am and tazobactam on normal immune responses were investigated. These agents did not interfere with either humoral or cell-mediated immune r esponses as measured by the hemolytic plaque assay and delayed type hy persensitivity reaction assay respectively. In addition, human polymor phonuclear leukocyte phagocytic activity was not altered by these agen ts. When these agents were tested for their effect on Staphylococcus a ureas adherence to buccal epithelial cells we found that all inhibitor s suppressed staphylococcal adherence at therapeutic serum concentrati ons. Among the inhibitors investigated, sulbactam was found to signifi cantly inhibit the hemolysin production of S. aureus. These data sugge st that beta-lactamase inhibitors do not exhibit immunomodulating acti vity, but they interfere with some of the virulence factors of S. aure us. These findings suggest the advantage of preparations containing th ese inhibitors.