Related Experiment Videos
Effect of ampicillin/sulbactam on human polymorphonuclear leukocyte function.
A Pascual1, M C Conejo, G López Lopez
1Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University Hospital, Sevilla, Spain.
Chemotherapy
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Ampicillin enhances Staphylococcus aureus uptake by human immune cells (PMN), but only for non-penicillinase-producing strains. This effect was not seen with penicillinase-producing strains or intracellularly.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) are crucial for combating bacterial infections, particularly Staphylococcus aureus.
- The efficacy of antibiotics like ampicillin and sulbactam can be influenced by bacterial resistance mechanisms and host immune cell interactions.
- Understanding how antimicrobial agents affect the interplay between bacteria and immune cells is vital for optimizing treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vitro effects of ampicillin and sulbactam on the interaction between human PMN and Staphylococcus aureus.
- To determine if these antimicrobials influence bacterial uptake by PMN.
- To assess the impact on reactive oxygen species production and intracellular bacterial killing.
Main Methods:
- Exposure of non-penicillinase-producing and penicillinase-producing Staphylococcus aureus strains to sub-inhibitory concentrations of ampicillin and sulbactam.
- Co-incubation of treated bacteria with human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN).
- Quantification of bacterial uptake by PMN.
- Measurement of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide radical production by PMN.
- Assessment of intracellular bacterial killing.
Main Results:
- Exposure to ampicillin (at 1/4 MIC) significantly increased the uptake of non-penicillinase-producing S. aureus by human PMN.
- Sulbactam alone did not enhance bacterial uptake.
- Combinations of ampicillin and sulbactam also increased uptake of the non-penicillinase-producing strain.
- No enhancement of bacterial uptake was observed with penicillinase-producing S. aureus strains.
- Neither ampicillin nor sulbactam affected PMN production of superoxide or hydrogen peroxide radicals.
- No intracellular activity against S. aureus within human PMN was demonstrated for either agent alone or in combination.
Conclusions:
- Ampicillin, at sub-inhibitory concentrations, can enhance the phagocytic activity of human PMN against non-penicillinase-producing Staphylococcus aureus.
- This effect is strain-dependent and does not extend to penicillinase-producing strains.
- Ampicillin and sulbactam do not directly impact PMN's oxidative burst or demonstrate intracellular bactericidal activity in this model.