Efficacy of dactimicin plus clindamycin compared with gentamicin plus clindamycin in the treatment of experimental intra-abdominal infections in rats.

A reproducible experimental model of intra-abdominal infections in rats has been developed in order to simulate intra-abdominal sepsis in patients. A 1-cm segment of ileum was isolated on its vascular pedicle. The intestine was then divided at each end of the segment and intestinal continuity was re-established by an end-to-end anastomosis. Dactimicin is a new aminoglycoside antibiotic with a broad antibacterial spectrum including both aerobic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The experimental model was used to compare the efficacy of dactimicin in combination with clindamycin with the combination gentamicin/clindamycin in the treatment of intra-abdominal infections. Of the untreated animals, 70% died within two days. Animals treated with dactimicin plus clindamycin or gentamicin plus clindamycin exhibited significantly decreased mortality and increased cure rates during the experimental period. Only 5% of these animals died. Thus the combination dactimicin/clindamycin seems to be useful in the treatment of intra-abdominal infections.