TREATMENT OF MYCOBACTERIUM-HAEMOPHILUM INFECTION IN A MURINE MODEL WITH CLARITHROMYCIN, RIFABUTIN, AND CIPROFLOXACIN

An animal model of disseminated Mycobacterium haemophilum infection wa s utilized to compare treatment with azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, rifa butin, and the combination of clarithromycin with rifabutin. Following subcutaneous challenge with M. haemophilum, local and disseminated in fection occurred only in immunosuppressed mice. For disseminated infec tion, ciprofloxacin was relatively ineffective therapy. Clarithromycin and rifabutin alone significantly reduced the tissue burden in the sp leen after 4 weeks of therapy. Combination therapy with rifabutin and clarithromycin was superior to 4 weeks of treatment with the individua l agents. When immunosuppressed mice were treated for 20 weeks with th e combination of rifabutin and clarithromycin, the tissue burden remai ned reduced in the spleen at 1 month following the completion of thera py. Combined rifabutin and clarithromycin provide effective treatment for M. haemophilum in this model.