In vitro activity of teichomycin and vancomycin alone and in combination with rifampin

The antibacterial activity of teichomycin, a glycopeptide antibiotic similar to vancomycin, has been evaluated in vitro and compared with that of vancomycin. Test strains included 130 staphylococci and 132 streptococci, with representatives of the major currently recognized species or groups, and lesser numbers of clostridia, propionibacteria, and group JK bacteria. Teichomycin was found to be more active than vancomycin. Its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was two- to fourfold lower than that of vancomycin with staphylococci and anaerobic bacteria, and two- to eightfold lower with streptococci. No significant differences were observed with group JK bacteria. For most strains tested, minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of both teichomycin and vancomycin either equalled or exceeded by twofold the respective MICs. Higher MBC-to-MIC ratios were obtained for enterococci and pneumococci with both antibiotics. Both teichomycin and vancomycin showed similar in vitro interactions with rifampin in combination tests. Neither antagonism nor (with very few exceptions) synergism occurred.