Activity of FCE 22101 and other beta-lactam antibiotics against experimental genital infections in the rat and mouse.

The therapeutic activities of the parenterally administered penem FCE 22101, cefuroxime and ampicillin were compared in an experimental model of genital infections in progesterone-treated virgin rats and normal female mice. Treatment with FCE 22101 significantly inhibited the proliferation of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 13709, Escherichia coli G and Enterobacter cloacae 1321 E, as compared with untreated controls. Against Staph. aureus ampicillin was slightly more active than cefuroxime, which showed equivalent activity to FCE 22101, while against Esch. coli and Ent. cloacae cefuroxime and ampicillin were less active than FCE 22101. The activity of the antibiotics against beta-lactamase-producing strains was also tested and here FCE 22101 exhibited the greatest inhibitory effect on bacterial growth.