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Lack of antibacterial activity after intravenous hydrogen peroxide infusion in experimental Escherichia coli sepsis
Abstract:
The intravenous administration of hydrogen peroxide has been reported to benefit patients with pneumonia and to reduce Plasmodium parasitemia in experimentally infected mice. We assessed the antibacterial activity of intravenously infused hydrogen peroxide against hydrogen peroxide-susceptible Escherichia coli (MBC of hydrogen peroxide, 0.23 mM) in experimentally infected rabbits. No decrease in the level of bacteremia was detected at the maximum intravenous infusion rate of hydrogen peroxide physiologically tolerated by the rabbits (2.0 mumol/h). Moreover, the addition ex vivo of greater amounts of hydrogen peroxide to human or murine blood containing E. coli resulted in no detectable antibacterial action. In contrast, ethyl hydrogen peroxide, which is not affected by catalase, was bactericidal when added ex vivo to human blood containing E. coli. These results suggest that extracellular hydrogen peroxide, whether of exogenous or endogenous origin, does not have antibacterial activity in the blood of animals having even low levels of catalase.
Insights
Intravenous hydrogen peroxide showed no antibacterial effect against Escherichia coli in rabbits, even at tolerated doses. This suggests extracellular hydrogen peroxide lacks antibacterial activity in blood with catalase.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pharmacology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Intravenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has shown potential therapeutic benefits in pneumonia and malaria.
- Its antibacterial activity in vivo remains largely uncharacterized, particularly in the context of blood physiology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of intravenous hydrogen peroxide against hydrogen peroxide-susceptible Escherichia coli in a rabbit model.
- To investigate the antibacterial activity of hydrogen peroxide in human and murine blood ex vivo.
Main Methods:
- Rabbits experimentally infected with E. coli received intravenous hydrogen peroxide infusions up to the maximum tolerated rate.
- Hydrogen peroxide and ethyl hydrogen peroxide were added ex vivo to human and murine blood containing E. coli.
Main Results:
- Intravenous hydrogen peroxide infusion did not reduce bacteremia levels in rabbits, even at the maximum tolerated dose.
- Ex vivo addition of hydrogen peroxide to blood showed no antibacterial effect.
- Ethyl hydrogen peroxide, resistant to catalase, demonstrated bactericidal activity ex vivo.
Conclusions:
- Extracellular hydrogen peroxide, whether endogenous or exogenous, exhibits no significant antibacterial activity in animal blood containing catalase.
- Catalase likely neutralizes the antibacterial effects of hydrogen peroxide in the bloodstream.
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