IN-VITRO ACTIVITY OF ROKITAMYCIN, A NEW MACROLIDE, AGAINST BORRELIA-BURGDORFERI

The activity of rokitamycin, a new macrolide with a 16-member ring, wa s tested against Borrelia burgdorferi in vitro. The antibiotic had a l ower MIC at which 50% of the isolates are inhibited than erythromycin, the parent 14-member macrolide, but the same MIC at which 50% of the isolates are inhibited as the other recent 14- and 15-member macrolide s, like clarithromycin and azithromycin. The MBC was equal to the MIC at which 50% of the isolates are inhibited, so rokitamycin can be cons idered bactericidal against B. burgdorferi. The sensitivity of the Bor relia strains tested was not correlated with the particular species Bu rgdorferi sensu stricto,B. garinii, and B. afzelii or with the number of subcultures of the isolates.