[Effect of cefaclor and tobramycin on the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages in mice].

The influence of Cefaclor and of Tobramycin on phagocytosis of sheep erythrocytes by murine peritoneal macrophages was investigated. The antibiotics in various concentrations were either added to the cells directly during the phagocytosis period or injected i.v. into cell donor mice at different times before cell harvest and the cells subsequently assayed for phagocytic activity in vitro. When antibiotic was added during the phagocytosis a dose-dependent inhibition of phagocytosis was observed which, however, became significant only at extremely high concentrations of the antibiotic. In all other experimental set-ups, phagocytosis was not influenced by antibiotics. Restrictive usage of either antibiotic in clinical situation does not appear mandatory on the basis of the reported observations.