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. 1979 Mar;15(3):415–419. doi: 10.1128/aac.15.3.415

Effect of Ampicillin and Chloramphenicol Alone and in Combination on Ampicillin-Susceptible and -Resistant Haemophilus influenzae Type B

F Sessions Cole 1,†, Robert S Daum 1,‡, Lynn Teller 1, Donald A Goldmann 1, Arnold L Smith 1,§
PMCID: PMC352675  PMID: 313752

Abstract

To evaluate ampicillin (Amp) and chloramphenicol (Cm) alone and in combination against Haemophilus influenzae type b, we examined the viability of 5 log10 colony-forming units (CFU) of early-log-phase organisms per ml after 4 and 8 h of incubation with the drug(s). Nine Amp-susceptible (Amps) and five Amp-resistant (Ampr) systemic isolates were examined. Antibiotic concentrations included: the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Amp, 50% of the MIC of Amp, 25% of the MIC of Amp, the MIC of Cm, 50% of the MIC of Cm, 25% of the MIC of Cm, and nine combinations of these concentrations. Both Amp and Cm at their MIC significantly reduced bacterial titers of AmpsH. influenzae type b after 8 h of incubation (1.36 and 1.47 log10 CFU/ml, respectively; both p < 0.01); only Cm at its MIC significantly reduced the number of viable organisms after 4 h (0.91 log10 CFU/ml; P < 0.001). With Ampr organisms, significant reductions in mean bacterial titers occurred after 4 and 8 h of incubation in the presence of Amp at its MIC (1.66 and 2.06 log10 CFU/ml, respectively; both P < 0.02); smaller but significant reductions were noted after 4 and 8 with Cm at its MIC (0.56 and 0.87 log20 CFU/ml, respectively; both P < 0.025). Antagonism with Amps or Ampr strains was not seen. We conclude that combinations of Amp and Cm have indifferent effects on Amps and AmprH. influenzae type b.

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Selected References

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