Comparative activity of SCH 34343 against anaerobic bacteria.

The in vitro activity of SCH 34343 was compared with that of imipenem, clindamycin, cefoxitin, and metronidazole against 78 strains of anaerobic bacteria in the presence and absence of blood. Wilkins-Chalgren agar was used. SCH 34343 and imipenem were the most active agents, inhibiting all strains at less than or equal to 8 micrograms/ml. The addition of blood had little effect on the activity of any of the agents. Seven strains were unable to grow on Wilkins-Chalgren agar. Even with the addition of blood, one strain each of Bacteroides asaccharolyticus and Bacteroides bivius and two strains of Fusobacterium were unable to grow. Sixty-eight of the strains were tested against SCH 34343 and imipenem on Brucella lysed blood agar. Minimal inhibitory concentrations tended to be somewhat higher on Brucella lysed blood agar than on Wilkins-Chalgren agar, and all strains were able to grow on Brucella lysed blood agar.