Effect of beta-lactam antibiotics on migration and bactericidal activity of human phagocytes

The effect of beta-lactam antibiotics upon some functions of human phagocytes was examined. Penicillins (carbenicillin and piperacillin), thienamycin, and cephalosporins (cefotetan, ceftazidime, and moxalactam) had no effect on either the random or directional migration or on the bactericidal activity of neutrophils and monocytes against Staphylococcus aureus. On the contrary, cefoperazone at therapeutic levels was shown to inhibit neutrophil chemotaxis.