SUB-MICS OF SANFETRINEM PROMOTE THE INTERACTION OF HUMAN POLYMORPHONUCLEAR GRANULOCYTES WITH A MULTIPLY RESISTANT STRAIN OF KLEBSIELLA-PNEUMONIAE

The effect of sanfetrinem, a member of a new class of antibiotics, upo n the in-vitro interaction between human polymorphonuclear granulocyte s (PMNs) and a multiply resistant strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae was investigated. Sub-MICs of sanfetrinem significantly enhanced PMN phago cytosis and greatly reduced the survival of intracellular bacteria com pared with antibiotic-free systems. The distinction between any effect of sanfetrinem on the klebsiellae and the phagocytes was made by expo sing each of them to the drug before they were incubated together. The results indicate that sanfetrinem may have a direct positive action e ither on K. pneumoniae or on human granulocytes.