Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in mice after treatment with cyclophosphamide

This study attempted to determine if the antineoplastic alkylating agent, cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), altered the host response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in mice. The effect of cyclophosphamide was evaluated by an increased mortality or enhanced bacterial growth in the liver, lungs, spleen, and kidneys. The mice that were treated with either single or multiple doses of 25 mg/kg cyclophosphamide showed no increase in mortality, nor did they exhibit an enhanced localization of P aeruginosa in any of the organs studied. Higher dose levels of cyclophosphamide produced a statistically significant increase in mortality and greater distribution of bacteria in the mouse organs, but there appeared to be no organ that was particularly susceptible to infection.