Intrinsic resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to clarithromycin is effectively reversed by subinhibitory concentrations of cell wall inhibitors.

Subinhibitory concentrations of bacitracin, vancomycin and other inhibitors of cell wall synthesis reversed to varying extents the intrinsic resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to clarithromycin. Ethambutol reversed clarithromycin resistance in all of the M. tuberculosis strains studied regardless of their susceptibility to this drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]