[Antibiotics and immune-response-concomitant effects of chemotherapy (author's transl)]

The clinical effectivity of an antimicrobial chemotherapy substantially depends on a functionally intact immune system. Among the antibiotics, however, there are many which can impair the cellular and/or humoral immune defence. The actually published but by no means complete data of this relatively new field of research suggest that a conconcomitant immunosuppressive effect correlates less with the (as far as known) antibacterial mode of action than--but even here with certain exceptions--with the chemical classification. A clinical significance of these observations seems to be at hand in borderline immunological defence situations. To optimize the antimicrobial chemotherapy, it is becoming evident that only only the sensitivity of the isolated infective agents but also the concomitant effect of antibiotics should be taken into account. There are antibiotics being neutral or even stimulating in respect to the immune system. On the other hand, substances given additionally to antibiotics or certain kinds of treatment have been described equalizing the immunosuppressive effect of antibiotics.