EFFECT OF RUFLOXACIN UPON NONSPECIFIC IMMUNE DEFENSES - IN-VITRO, EX-VIVO AND IN-VIVO RESULTS

This study investigated in-vitro, ex-vivo and in-vivo the immunomodula tory effects of rufloxacin. 0.5 MIC of rufloxacin significantly enhanc ed human macrophage phagocytosis and increased intracellular killing o f Klebsiella pneumoniae in vitro. Pre-incubation of K. pneumoniae with rufloxacin made the bacteria more susceptible to both phagocytosis an d intracellular killing by human macrophages than control organisms. F ollowing pre-exposure of macrophages to 0.5 MIC of rufloxacin, there w as a significant increase in the intracellular killing of K. pneumonia e compared with the controls, indicating the ability of rufloxacin to cross biological membranes and to remain active within phagocytes. Ex- vivo experiments show that iv administration of rufloxacin in mice lea d to an increase in both phagocytic and microbicidal intracellular act ivity by phagocytes. In-vivo models of experimental infections showed that prophylactic administration of rufloxacin increased the survival of mice after challenge with Candida albicans.