1. Effects of Imipenem, Cefotaxime and Cotrimoxazole on Aerobic Microbial Colonization of the Digestive Tract
- Author
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P. L. M. Thunnissen, J. J. J. P. M. Van Der Leur, Anton S. M. Dofferhoff, N. F. Muller, and H. A. L. Clasener
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,Microbiology (medical) ,Imipenem ,Cefotaxime ,medicine.drug_class ,Antibiotics ,Colonisation resistance ,Microbiology ,Feces ,Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination ,medicine ,Humans ,Aged ,Candida ,Aged, 80 and over ,Gram-Negative Aerobic Bacteria ,General Immunology and Microbiology ,biology ,Pseudomonas ,General Medicine ,Middle Aged ,biology.organism_classification ,Antimicrobial ,Trimethoprim ,Bacteria, Aerobic ,Infectious Diseases ,Enterococcus ,Superinfection ,Female ,Digestive System ,medicine.drug - Abstract
Superinfections originating from a digestive tract colonized by abnormally high concentrations of aerobic microorganisms as a result of impaired resistance to colonization (CR) may complicate antibiotic therapy. In this study, patients with a moderate to severe systemic infection were randomized to receive either cefotaxime (CTX, n = 10) or cotrimoxazole (CTR, n = 10), 2 antibiotic regimens presumed to spare CR; or imipenem/cilastine (I/C, n = 19). The effect on CR was measured indirectly by comparing the aerobic faecal flora before antibiotic treatment with that on day 8 of treatment. An increase in aerobic faecal flora denotes a disturbed CR, whereas a decrease means that the organism is sensitive to the effective faecal concentration of the antibiotic. Imipenem/cilastine-treated patients showed a significant increase in enterococci and Candida spp., while the number of aerobic Gram-negative rods remained constant. Cefotaxime-treated patients had evidence of an increase in enterococci, but not of Candida spp., and Escherichia coli numbers decreased significantly. In these patients the concentration of other Gram-negative aerobic rods showed a slight increase in 6 patients with a resistant Pseudomonas strain. Cotrimoxazole-treated patients showed a significant decrease in aerobic Gram-negative rods, a significant increase in Candida spp. and no change in enterococci. It is concluded that all 3 antimicrobial agents impair colonization resistance. Whether or not this is followed by overgrowth with resistant micro-organisms depends on the active faecal concentration of the antimicrobial agent and the MIC of the aerobic micro-organisms. The risk of overgrowth of the bowel with resistant Gram-negative bacilli appears to be smaller following cotrimoxazole than following cefotaxime or imipenem/cilastine.
- Published
- 1993
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