Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy logoLink to Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
. 1993 Dec;37(12):2633–2637. doi: 10.1128/aac.37.12.2633

In vitro susceptibilities of spotted fever group rickettsiae and Coxiella burnetti to clarithromycin.

M Maurin 1, D Raoult 1
PMCID: PMC192761  PMID: 8109928

Abstract

The in vitro bacteriostatic activity of clarithromycin, a new macrolide derivative, against Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia conorii, and "Rickettsia israeli" was determined by the plaque assay and the dye uptake assay. Both bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities of clarithromycin against the Nine Mile, Q212, Priscilla, and ME9 strains of Coxiella burnetti were evaluated by using three cell culture systems. Clarithromycin showed improved antibacterial activity compared with that of erythromycin. A bacteriostatic activity was obtained at concentrations below the reported maximum concentration of clarithromycin in human serum (about 4 micrograms/ml) for all tested rickettsiae. MICs ranged from 1 to 2 micrograms/ml for the three Rickettsia species and from 1 to 4 micrograms/ml for the C. burnetti strains. No bactericidal activity against C. burnetti was obtained when clarithromycin was used at 4 micrograms/ml.

Full text

PDF
2633

Images in this article

2635Image
on p.2635

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Akporiaye E. T., Rowatt J. D., Aragon A. A., Baca O. G. Lysosomal response of a murine macrophage-like cell line persistently infected with Coxiella burnetii. Infect Immun. 1983 Jun;40(3):1155–1162. doi: 10.1128/iai.40.3.1155-1162.1983. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Anderson R., Joone G., van Rensburg C. E. An in-vitro evaluation of the cellular uptake and intraphagocytic bioactivity of clarithromycin (A-56268, TE-031), a new macrolide antimicrobial agent. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1988 Dec;22(6):923–933. doi: 10.1093/jac/22.6.923. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Araujo F. G., Prokocimer P., Lin T., Remington J. S. Activity of clarithromycin alone or in combination with other drugs for treatment of murine toxoplasmosis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1992 Nov;36(11):2454–2457. doi: 10.1128/aac.36.11.2454. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Bella F., Espejo E., Uriz S., Serrano J. A., Alegre M. D., Tort J. Randomized trial of 5-day rifampin versus 1-day doxycycline therapy for Mediterranean spotted fever. J Infect Dis. 1991 Aug;164(2):433–434. doi: 10.1093/infdis/164.2.433. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Bella F., Font B., Uriz S., Muñoz T., Espejo E., Traveria J., Serrano J. A., Segura F. Randomized trial of doxycycline versus josamycin for Mediterranean spotted fever. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1990 May;34(5):937–938. doi: 10.1128/aac.34.5.937. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Brown B. A., Wallace R. J., Jr, Onyi G. O. Activities of clarithromycin against eight slowly growing species of nontuberculous mycobacteria, determined by using a broth microdilution MIC system. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1992 Sep;36(9):1987–1990. doi: 10.1128/aac.36.9.1987. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Chang H. R., Rudareanu F. C., Pechère J. C. Activity of A-56268 (TE-031), a new macrolide, against Toxoplasma gondii in mice. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1988 Sep;22(3):359–361. doi: 10.1093/jac/22.3.359. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Chirgwin K., Roblin P. M., Hammerschlag M. R. In vitro susceptibilities of Chlamydia pneumoniae (Chlamydia sp. strain TWAR). Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1989 Sep;33(9):1634–1635. doi: 10.1128/aac.33.9.1634. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Chu S. Y., Sennello L. T., Bunnell S. T., Varga L. L., Wilson D. S., Sonders R. C. Pharmacokinetics of clarithromycin, a new macrolide, after single ascending oral doses. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1992 Nov;36(11):2447–2453. doi: 10.1128/aac.36.11.2447. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Cooper M. A., Baldwin D., Matthews R. S., Andrews J. M., Wise R. In-vitro susceptibility of Chlamydia pneumoniae (TWAR) to seven antibiotics. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1991 Sep;28(3):407–413. doi: 10.1093/jac/28.3.407. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. D'Angelo L. J., Hetherington R. Q fever treated with erythromycin. Br Med J. 1979 Aug 4;2(6185):305–306. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.6185.305. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Derouin F., Chastang C. Activity in vitro against Toxoplasma gondii of azithromycin and clarithromycin alone and with pyrimethamine. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1990 Apr;25(4):708–711. doi: 10.1093/jac/25.4.708. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Drancourt M., Raoult D. In vitro susceptibilities of Rickettsia rickettsii and Rickettsia conorii to roxithromycin and pristinamycin. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1989 Dec;33(12):2146–2148. doi: 10.1128/aac.33.12.2146. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Ellis M. E., Dunbar E. M. In vivo response of acute Q fever to erythromycin. Thorax. 1982 Nov;37(11):867–868. doi: 10.1136/thx.37.11.867. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Ewing E. P., Jr, Takeuchi A., Shirai A., Osterman J. V. Experimental infection of mouse peritoneal mesothelium with scrub typhus rickettsiae: an ultrastructural study. Infect Immun. 1978 Mar;19(3):1068–1075. doi: 10.1128/iai.19.3.1068-1075.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Fenelon L. E., Mumtaz G., Ridgway G. L. The in-vitro antibiotic susceptibility of Chlamydia pneumoniae. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1990 Dec;26(6):763–767. doi: 10.1093/jac/26.6.763. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Fernandes P. B., Hardy D. J., McDaniel D., Hanson C. W., Swanson R. N. In vitro and in vivo activities of clarithromycin against Mycobacterium avium. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1989 Sep;33(9):1531–1534. doi: 10.1128/aac.33.9.1531. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Gan V. N., Chu S. Y., Kusmiesz H. T., Craft J. C. Pharmacokinetics of a clarithromycin suspension in infants and children. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1992 Nov;36(11):2478–2480. doi: 10.1128/aac.36.11.2478. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Goldwasser R. A., Steiman Y., Klingberg W., Swartz T. A., Klingberg M. A. The isolation of strains of rickettsiae of the spotted fever group in Israel and their differentiation from other members of the group by immunofluorescence methods. Scand J Infect Dis. 1974;6(1):53–62. doi: 10.3109/inf.1974.6.issue-1.10. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Hackstadt T., Williams J. C. Biochemical stratagem for obligate parasitism of eukaryotic cells by Coxiella burnetii. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1981 May;78(5):3240–3244. doi: 10.1073/pnas.78.5.3240. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Heifets L. B., Lindholm-Levy P. J., Comstock R. D. Clarithromycin minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations against Mycobacterium avium. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1992 Apr;145(4 Pt 1):856–858. doi: 10.1164/ajrccm/145.4_Pt_1.856. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Johnson D. M., Erwin M. E., Barrett M. S., Gooding B. B., Jones R. N. Antimicrobial activity of ten macrolide, lincosamine and streptogramin drugs tested against Legionella species. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 1992 Aug;11(8):751–755. doi: 10.1007/BF01989985. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Maurin M., Benoliel A. M., Bongrand P., Raoult D. Phagolysosomal alkalinization and the bactericidal effect of antibiotics: the Coxiella burnetii paradigm. J Infect Dis. 1992 Nov;166(5):1097–1102. doi: 10.1093/infdis/166.5.1097. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Murray H. W., Tuazon C. Atypical pneumonias. Med Clin North Am. 1980 May;64(3):507–527. doi: 10.1016/s0025-7125(16)31607-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. ORMSBEE R. A., PARKER H., PICKENS E. G. The comparative effectiveness of aureomycin, terramycin, chloramphenicol erythromycin, and thiocymetin in suppressing experimental rickettsial infections in chick embryos. J Infect Dis. 1955 Mar-Apr;96(2):162–167. doi: 10.1093/infdis/96.2.162. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Perronne C., Gikas A., Truffot-Pernot C., Grosset J., Pocidalo J. J., Vilde J. L. Activities of clarithromycin, sulfisoxazole, and rifabutin against Mycobacterium avium complex multiplication within human macrophages. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1990 Aug;34(8):1508–1511. doi: 10.1128/aac.34.8.1508. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Poirier R. Comparative study of clarithromycin and roxithromycin in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1991 Feb;27 (Suppl A):109–116. doi: 10.1093/jac/27.suppl_a.109. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Pérez-del-Molino A., Aguado J. M., Riancho J. A., Sampedro I., Matorras P., Gonzalez-Macias J. Erythromycin and the treatment of Coxiella burnetii pneumonia. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1991 Sep;28(3):455–459. doi: 10.1093/jac/28.3.455. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Raoult D., Bres P., Drancourt M., Vestris G. In vitro susceptibilities of Coxiella burnetii, Rickettsia rickettsii, and Rickettsia conorii to the fluoroquinolone sparfloxacin. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1991 Jan;35(1):88–91. doi: 10.1128/aac.35.1.88. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Raoult D., Drancourt M. Antimicrobial therapy of rickettsial diseases. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1991 Dec;35(12):2457–2462. doi: 10.1128/aac.35.12.2457. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Raoult D., Drancourt M., Vestris G. Bactericidal effect of doxycycline associated with lysosomotropic agents on Coxiella burnetii in P388D1 cells. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1990 Aug;34(8):1512–1514. doi: 10.1128/aac.34.8.1512. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Raoult D., Roussellier P., Tamalet J. In vitro evaluation of josamycin, spiramycin, and erythromycin against Rickettsia rickettsii and R. conorii. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1988 Feb;32(2):255–256. doi: 10.1128/aac.32.2.255. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Raoult D., Torres H., Drancourt M. Shell-vial assay: evaluation of a new technique for determining antibiotic susceptibility, tested in 13 isolates of Coxiella burnetii. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1991 Oct;35(10):2070–2077. doi: 10.1128/aac.35.10.2070. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Raoult D. Treatment of Q fever. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1993 Sep;37(9):1733–1736. doi: 10.1128/aac.37.9.1733. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Raoult D., Yeaman M. R., Baca O. G. Susceptibility of Coxiella burnetii to pefloxacin and ofloxacin in ovo and in persistently infected L929 cells. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1989 May;33(5):621–623. doi: 10.1128/aac.33.5.621. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Raoult D., Zuchelli P., Weiller P. J., Charrel C., San Marco J. L., Gallais H., Casanova P. Incidence, clinical observations and risk factors in the severe form of Mediterranean spotted fever among patients admitted to hospital in Marseilles 1983-1984. J Infect. 1986 Mar;12(2):111–116. doi: 10.1016/s0163-4453(86)93508-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Rastogi N., Goh K. S. Effect of pH on radiometric MICs of clarithromycin against 18 species of mycobacteria. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1992 Dec;36(12):2841–2842. doi: 10.1128/aac.36.12.2841. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Rastogi N., Goh K. S., Labrousse V. Activity of clarithromycin compared with those of other drugs against Mycobacterium paratuberculosis and further enhancement of its extracellular and intracellular activities by ethambutol. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1992 Dec;36(12):2843–2846. doi: 10.1128/aac.36.12.2843. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Ridgway G. L., Mumtaz G., Fenelon L. The in-vitro activity of clarithromycin and other macrolides against the type strain of Chlamydia pneumoniae (TWAR). J Antimicrob Chemother. 1991 Feb;27 (Suppl A):43–45. doi: 10.1093/jac/27.suppl_a.43. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Rikihisa Y., Ito S. Entry of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi into polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Infect Immun. 1982 Oct;38(1):343–350. doi: 10.1128/iai.38.1.343-350.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Walker D. H. Rocky Mountain spotted fever: a disease in need of microbiological concern. Clin Microbiol Rev. 1989 Jul;2(3):227–240. doi: 10.1128/cmr.2.3.227. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. Winkler H. H., Miller E. T. Phospholipase A and the interaction of Rickettsia prowazekii and mouse fibroblasts (L-929 cells). Infect Immun. 1982 Oct;38(1):109–113. doi: 10.1128/iai.38.1.109-113.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  43. Wisseman C. L., Jr, Waddell A. D., Walsh W. T. In vitro studies of the action of antibiotics on Rickettsia prowazeki by two basic methods of cell culture. J Infect Dis. 1974 Dec;130(6):564–574. doi: 10.1093/infdis/130.6.564. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  44. Yeaman M. R., Mitscher L. A., Baca O. G. In vitro susceptibility of Coxiella burnetii to antibiotics, including several quinolones. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1987 Jul;31(7):1079–1084. doi: 10.1128/aac.31.7.1079. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES