Some antimicrobial agents have been reported to modify the host immune resp
onses both in vivo and in vitro. As we demonstrated previously that co-amox
iclav had beneficial properties which result in enhancement of the microbic
idal functions of human poly-morphonuclear cell (PMNs), we investigated the
modulatory effect of this combination on cytokine production by human PMNs
in vitro, The addition of co-amoxiclav elicited the production by lipopoly
saccharide (LPS)-stimulated PMNs of substantial amounts of some cytokines,
namely IL-8 and IL-1 beta, after the addition of Klebsiella pneumoniae. The
se cytokine levels were higher than those obtained by PMNs incubated in cul
ture medium only, without co-amoxiclav.