Comparative effect of thiamphenicol glycinate, thiamphenicol glycinate N-acetylcysteinate, amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid, ceftriaxone and clarithromycin on pulmonary clearance of Haemophilus influenzae in an animal model

Background: Thiamphenicol glycinate (TG) and its derivative thiamphenicol g lycinate N-acetylcysteinate (TGA) could be a valid therapeutic option in th e treatment of respiratory tract infections. Methods: Time-kill curves of T G and TGA and pulmonary clearance in Haemophilus influenzae infected guinea pigs were compared with those of clarithromycin, ceftriaxone and amoxicill in plus clavulanic acid. Results: The bacterial activities of the tested an tibiotics were comparable. When compared to the control group, lung bacteri al counts were significantly lower for the TGA group at 3 h vs. controls, w hile for the other treatments, significant decreases were recorded after 6 h. All drugs showed a log count of <2.0 at 24 h with respect to the control while at 48 h all groups demonstrated a log count of <2.0. Conclusions: Al though the in vitro activity of the tested drugs evaluated by time-kill cur ves seemed comparable, some pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteris tics of TGA contribute to improving the resolution of the infective process . Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG. Basel.