Narita K, Koide N, Morikawa A, Kato Y, Sugiyama T, Yoshida T, Yokochi T
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Aichi Medical University.
Jpn J Med Sci Biol. 1997 Dec;50(6):233-9.
The relationship between the level of endotoxin released from Pseudomonas aeruginosa by exposure to beta-lactam antibiotics and the lethal activity against D-galactosamine (D-GalN)-sensitized mice was examined. In vitro treatment of P. aeruginosa with imipenem (IPM) exclusively caused low-level release of free endotoxin, which was not lethal for D-GalN-sensitized mice. Treatment with other beta-lactam antibiotics, such as ceftazidime (CAZ), meropenem (MEPM) and cefozopran (CZOP) caused high-level release of free endotoxin and it exhibited the lethal action against D-GalN-sensitized mice. This study demonstrated close association of free endotoxin released by antibiotic treatment with the lethal activity.
