BAY 12-8039 is a new 8-methoxyquinolone with activity against gram-positive bacteria that is significantly better than that of ciprofloxacin and activity against gram-negative bacteria comparable to that of ciprofloxacin (4). Trovafloxacin (formerly CP-99,219) is a novel fluoronaphthyridone related to the fluoroquinolones with excellent activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms (3). Ciprofloxacin is very active against Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis (6, 7). Therefore, we compared the susceptibilities of these Bordetella species (34 clinical isolates each) to BAY 12-8039 and trovafloxacin to their susceptibilities to ciprofloxacin. The agar dilution test procedure with Mueller-Hinton agar supplemented with 5% horse blood was very similar to that used in our previous studies (6, 7). Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 served as the control strain.
Table 1 shows the results of the MIC determinations. The results with ciprofloxacin are in good agreement with those of previous studies by our group (6, 7) and by others (1, 2, 8). The MICs of BAY 12-8039 and trovafloxacin against B. pertussis in the present study were essentially similar to those of ciprofloxacin (Table 1), thus confirming the results found with other species of gram-negative bacteria (3, 4). Similarly, the MICs of the three agents against B. parapertussis were all within one log2 dilution of each other (Table 1).
TABLE 1.
Activities of three fluoroquinolones against 34 isolates each of B. pertussis and B. parapertussis
| Organism | Antimicrobial agent | MIC (μg/ml)a
|
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Range | 50% | 90% | ||
| B. pertussis | BAY 12-8039 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.03 |
| Trovafloxacin | 0.03–0.06 | 0.06 | 0.06 | |
| Ciprofloxacin | 0.03–0.06 | 0.06 | 0.06 | |
| B. parapertussis | BAY 12-8039 | 0.06–0.125 | 0.06 | 0.06 |
| Trovafloxacin | 0.125 | 0.125 | 0.125 | |
| Ciprofloxacin | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.06 | |
50% and 90%, MICs at which 50 and 90% of the isolates are inhibited, respectively.
The data on the in vitro activities of these agents against the two Bordetella species have to be interpreted in relation to the concentrations achievable in respiratory secretions. Such concentrations have been reported for ciprofloxacin (0.27 to 3.6 μg/ml [5]). A comparison of these concentrations and the MICs of all three agents against the Bordetella species suggests that the new fluoroquinolones should have good in vivo efficacy against pertussis and parapertussis (6). However, clinical trials have not yet been performed. The use of fluoroquinolones in children is contraindicated for toxicity reasons, but these agents might play a role in the treatment of adult patients with pertussis. For the novel compounds BAY 12-8039 and trovafloxacin, data on the concentrations achievable in bronchial secretions or sputum are not yet available.
Acknowledgments
Thanks are due to W. Grotz for excellent technical assistance. This study was supported by financial grants and donation of the antimicrobial agents by Bayer AG and Pfizer GmbH.
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