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Evaluation of a Reliable Biomarker in a Cecal Ligation and Puncture-Induced Mouse Model of Sepsis
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Evaluation of a Reliable Biomarker in a Cecal Ligation and Puncture-Induced Mouse Model of Sepsis

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Protein synthesis inhibiting clindamycin improves outcome in a mouse model of Staphylococcus aureus sepsis compared

Ivo Azeh1, Joachim Gerber, Andreas Wellmer

  • 1Department of Neurology, Georg-August-University, Goettingen, Germany.

Critical Care Medicine
|July 20, 2002
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Protein synthesis inhibitors like clindamycin (CLI) reduced mortality in experimental Staphylococcus aureus sepsis compared to bacteriolytic antibiotics like ceftriaxone (CRO). This suggests CLI

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Bacterial component release during antibiotic therapy can influence sepsis outcomes.
  • Different antibiotic classes have distinct mechanisms of action, potentially affecting host response.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if the mechanism of action of antibacterial therapy impacts mortality in experimental sepsis.
  • To compare the effects of a protein synthesis inhibitor (clindamycin) versus a bacteriolytic agent (ceftriaxone) in a murine model of Staphylococcus aureus sepsis.

Main Methods:

  • A lethal murine model of Staphylococcus aureus sepsis was established.
  • Animals were randomized to receive either clindamycin (CLI) or ceftriaxone (CRO) subcutaneously every 8 hours for 3 days, starting 5 hours post-infection.
  • Survival rates, time to death, motor performance, and levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha) were assessed.
  • In vitro studies evaluated the release of staphylococcal enterotoxin A by each antibiotic.

Main Results:

  • Survival was significantly higher in the clindamycin group (58%) compared to the ceftriaxone group (32%) (p = .015).
  • Mice treated with ceftriaxone exhibited earlier mortality (p = .002) and greater motor performance deterioration (p = .009).
  • Ceftriaxone treatment led to higher serum and peritoneal fluid levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (p = .027 and p = .001, respectively).
  • In vitro, clindamycin released lower amounts of staphylococcal enterotoxin A compared to ceftriaxone.

Conclusions:

  • Antibiotic treatment of Gram-positive sepsis using a protein synthesis inhibitor (clindamycin) resulted in decreased morbidity and mortality compared to a bacteriolytic agent (ceftriaxone).
  • This improved outcome may be attributed to the reduced release of pro-inflammatory bacterial components and cytokines with protein synthesis inhibitors.

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