L. Schlegel et al., IN-VITRO KILLING ACTIVITY OF COMBINATIONS OF BETA-LACTAM AGENTS WITH AMINOGLYCOSIDES AGAINST PENICILLIN-RESISTANT PNEUMOCOCCI, Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy, 39(1), 1997, pp. 95-98
Streptococcus pneumoniae has developed resistance to almost every anti
bacterial agent used in clinical practice, including the most active b
eta-lactams. This has led to the proposed use of drug combinations. Th
e aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of combinations of b
eta-lactam agents (cefotaxime or imipenem) with aminoglycosides (genta
micin, netilmicin or amikacin) against pneumococci showing high-revel
resistance to penicillin and streptomycin and/or kanamycin. All tested
combinations were bactericidal and synergic despite the weak concentr
ations of antibiotics used. Our results suggest that combinations of b
eta-lactam agents with aminoglycosides may be useful for treating infe
ctions by penicillin-resistant pneumococci located outside the central
nervous system.