Effect of antibiotics on gram-negative sepsis in the rat. Lack of endotoxin burst.

Endotoxin and monocyte thromboplastin activity were evaluated in rats with gram-negative septicaemia induced by caecal perforation or intravenous Escherichia coli challenge and treated with antibiotics or placebo. Endotoxin burst was not detected in either form of septicaemia during antibiotic treatment. Thromboplastin synthesis in monocytes is known to be stimulated by endotoxin, but the rats showed no increase of monocyte thromboplastin activity after antibiotic treatment, which constituted further evidence against the concept of massive endotoxin liberation during antibiotic therapy for gram-negative septicaemia.