[Cell-mediated immunity in antibiotic therapy]

Should antibiotic therapy required in the treatment of acute infection be administered frequently in patients at risk with clinical conditions involving recurrent superinfection? The results of our ongoing investigations initiated in 1967 and the present study indicate that macrolides, particularly erythromycin depress the host defense system. In contrast in a study performed in subjects treated for 8 days using cell-immunity tests, we found that cefaclor and amoxicillin may have an enhancing effect on host defenses.