In vitro investigations on the antibacterial action and the influence on the phagocytic chemiluminescence of tetrachlorodecaoxide--a new, non-metallic oxygen complex.

The first non-metallic oxygen carrier, tetrachlorodecaoxide (TCDO), showed in vitro antibacterial activity among aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. The lethal dose for Escherichia coli, for example, was 150 micrograms/ml whereas 15 micrograms/ml reduced the bacterial amount after a latent period of two hours, but regrowth started after four hours. The bactericidal effect of TCDO, however, was dose-dependent and species-specific. This suggests that some aerobic bacterial species might not be able to produce sufficient amounts of protecting enzymes like catalase or superoxide dismutase. The computer controlled measurement of chemiluminescence was used as a model for the phagocytic activity. With isolated human granulocytes and opsonized zymosan as antigen no increase in peak counts per minute was observed compared with controls without TCDO. However, with human whole blood, positive effects were seen using TCDO together with zymosan as well as specific and non-specific opsonized Klebsiella pneumoniae K 17. It seems that whole blood possesses additional, but as yet unknown biocatalysers to split TCDO into oxygen and chloride.