BACTERICIDAL ACTIVITY AND SYNERGY STUDIES OF PROTON PUMP INHIBITORS AND ANTIBIOTICS AGAINST HELICOBACTER-PYLORI IN-VITRO

The bactericidal activity of the proton pump inhibitors omeprazole and lansoprazole alone and in combination with a beta-lactam or macrolide antibiotic were investigated in vitro. Time-kill curves against Helic obacter pylori NCTC 11637 and a recent clinical isolate revealed signi ficant concentration-dependent killing with all drugs other than amoxy cillin. Combinations of proton pump inhibitor and erythromycin showed synergic activity. In contrast, proton pump inhibitor plus amoxycillin showed additive activity against the clinical isolate only. Bacterici dal investigations of anti-helicobacter drugs in vitro may suggest opt imum treatment strategies for this common infectious disease.