Effect of N, N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and nigericin on Staphylococcus aureus susceptibility to gentamicin

The abilities of the H+-ATPase inhibitor N, N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and the antibiotic ionophore nigericin to enhance the bactericidal effect of subinhibitory concentrations of gentamicin in two strains of Staphylococcus aureus were studied. Each compound significantly increased both gentamicin uptake and killing. The use of agents which alter the plasma membrane energy state is a novel approach to enhance the activity of conventional antibiotics.