Release of teichoic and lipoteichoic acids from 30 different strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae during exposure to ceftriaxone, meropenem, quinupristin/dalfopristin, rifampicin and trovafloxacin

The release of teichoic acids (TA) and lipoteichoic acids (LTA) from 30 dif ferent strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae during exposure to ceftriaxone, meropenem, quinupristin/dalfopristin, rifampicin and trovafloxacin at conce ntrations of 10 mu g/ml and of the respective MIC was determinded by an enz yme immunoassay. At 10 mu g/ml the most rapid and intense release was detec ted during treatment with the beta-lactam antibiotics ceftriaxone and merop enem, the lowest release was seen with rifampicin and quinupristin/dalfopri stin. Trovafloxacin delayed the release of TA/LTA. The maximum concentratio ns of TA/LTA, however, during trovafloxacin treatment were almost as high a s those during exposure to ceftriaxone and meropenem. During exposure to th e MIG, ceftriaxone, meropenem, rifampicin and trovafloxacin released signif icantly higher amounts of TA/LTA than during exposure to 10 mu g/ml (p < 0. 01). Only quinupristin/dalfopristin released small amounts of TA/LTA at the low and high concentration. In conclusion, at high concentrations antibiot ics that do not affect the bacterial cell wall released less pro-inflammato ry compounds from S. pneumoniae than ceftriaxone and meropenem. This may be of value in the treatment of meningitis and sepsis.