DIFFERENTIAL RELEASE OF ENDOTOXIN FROM PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA TREATEDWITH BETA-LACTAM ANTIBIOTICS AND ITS EFFECT ON THE LETHAL ACTIVITY

The relationship between the level of endotoxin released from Pseudomo nas aeruginosa by exposure to beta-lactam antibiotics and the lethal a ctivity against D-galactosamine (D-GalN)-sensitized mice was examined. In vitro treatment of P. aeruginosa with imipenem (IPM) exclusively c aused low-level release of free endotoxin, which was not lethal for D- GalN-sensitized mice. Treatment with other beta-lactam antibiotics, su ch as ceftazidime (CAZ), meropenem (MEPM) and cefozopran (CZOP) caused high-level release of free endotoxin and it exhibited the lethal acti on against D-GalN-sensitized mice. This study demonstrated close assoc iation of free endotoxin released by antibiotic treatment with the let hal activity.