[Studies on the sub-MIC of beta-lactam antibiotics--bactericidal activity in compromised host's serum]

Bactericidal activity in compromised host's serum i.e. patients with cancer, the elderly, diabetes, was stronger than that in normal serum against Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis) but was weaker against Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae). Against Escherichia coli (E. coli), bactericidal activity on serum of patients with cancer was weaker in the following order, that in elderly serum, that in diabetic serum. Against Proteus vulgaris (P. vulgaris), bactericidal activity in elderly serum was similar to that in normal serum but was stronger than that in serum of patients with cancer. Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), bactericidal activity in elderly serum and diabetic serum was similar to that in normal serum but was weaker than that in serum of patients with cancer. Piperacillin showed bactericidal activity in nutrient broth, normal serum and compromised host's serum at a concentration of 1/4 MIC against E. coli, P. mirabilis and P. aeruginosa. Aspoxicillin showed bactericidal activity in nutrient broth, and bactericidal or bacteriostatic activity in normal serum and serum of patients with cancer against E. coli and P. aeruginosa. While cefazolin and cefmetazole slightly inhibited the growth of bacteria in nutrient broth, they showed hardly any bactericidal activity in normal serum and compromised host's serum.