Early studies on in-vitro and experimental activity of spiramycin: a review.

This review of spiramycin activity in vitro is based mainly on early studies. The MICs of spiramycin for common pathogenic bacteria such as staphylococci, streptococci and pneumococci are higher than those of erythromycin. Conversely, in experimental models, the activity of spiramycin is equal to or greater than that of erythromycin. In addition, the activity of spiramycin on Neisseria, Legionella, Mycoplasma, Chlamydia, and Toxoplasma spp. completes its antimicrobial spectrum and shows that spiramycin covers the majority of agents responsible for respiratory tract infections. The 'spiramycin paradox'-the discrepancy between the relatively modest activity of spiramycin in vitro and its excellent activity in vivo will be explained by other papers. Its high tissue and intracellular concentrations, and the slow recovery of bacteria submitted to spiramycin are of great importance to account for its activity in vivo.