Effects of antibiotics on nonopsonized adherence of Staphylococcus aureus to human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

We investigated the effects of several antibiotics on the adherence of Staphylococcus aureus FDA 209P to polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Sublethal concentrations of aminoglycosides enhanced staphylococcal adherence to polymorphonuclear leukocytes, whereas beta-lactams, minocycline, ofloxacin and clindamycin decreased the adherence. Chloramphenicol and rokitamycin had no effect. It is likely that the adherence following antibiotic treatment is related to cell surface hydrophobicity determined by the measurement of the contact angle of 1-bromonaphthalene on a monolayer of staphylococcal cells.