A comparative study of the activity of cefamandole and other cephalosporins and analysis of the beta-lactamase stability and synergy of cefamandole with aminoglycosides.

The antibacterial activity of cefamandole against 445 clinical isolates was investigated and compared with the activity of other known cephalosporins (cephalothin, cephaloridine, cephalexin, and cefazolin) and of two penicillins (ampicillin and carbenicillin). Cefamandole was the most active antibiotic against isolates of Citrobacter, Enterobacter, and Shigella, and its activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacteroides, and some members of the Enterobacteriaceae was comparable to that of the other antibiotics tested. The stability of cefamandole with respect to beta-lactamase was investigated and compared with that of cephalothin, cefazolin, and cephalexin. Cefamandole was stable with respect to the beta-lactamases of Enterobacter and some other members of the Enterobacteriaceae. No significant correlation was found between the antibacterial activity and the beta-lactamase stability of cefamandole, except with Enterobacter. The synergistic activity of cefamandole combined with gentamicin or amikacin was demonstrated by killing-curve techniques, isobolograms, and susceptibility data. Although 12%--46% of the isolates were synergistically inhibited by either combination, antagonism was not observed. No correlation between the hydrolysis of cefamandole by beta-lactamase and the synergistic activity of cefamandole combined with amikacin was demonstrated.