Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae develop resistance
against the drugs used to treat tuberculosis and leprosy, respectivel
y. Now multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is spreading in many countries
, especially with the emergence of AIDS. Multidrug treatment is being
promoted at present to eradicate leprosy. Since M. leprae may also bec
ome multidrug-resistant, new approaches have to be adopted for control
ling mycobacterial diseases. Mycobacteria usually synthesize beta-lact
amase and are insensitive to beta-lactam antibiotics. M. tuberculosis
contains a constitutive beta-lactamase; de-repression of beta-lactamas
e has been reported in M. leprae. Three different beta-lactam/beta-lac
tamase-inhibitor combinations (ampicillin/sulbactam, amoxicillin/clavu
lanate and piperacillin/tazobactam) were used to suppress the growth o
f several strains of mycobacteria (including M. tuberculosis H37Rv) in
vitro. Ampicillin/sulbactam is a potent bactericidal agent against M.
leprae multiplying in mouse foot pads. In the present work, ampicilli
n/sulbactam showed higher activity than the other drug combinations. T
he beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitors are likely to be effective as
rational therapeutic agents against mycobacterial infections.