Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Post-antibiotic effect of beta-lactam antibiotics on gram-negative bacteria in relation to morphology, initial killing and MIC

  • Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The in vitro post-antibiotic effect (PAE) of cefepime, cefotaxime, ceftazidime and imipenem on reference strains ofEscherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa andSerratia marcescens were evaluated by bioluminescence assay of bacterial ATP. In parallel with the PAE determination, initial killing and morphology studies were performed. Imipenem produced>1 h PAE on all strains tested, cefepime and cefotaxime on four strains and ceftazidime only on one of the strains tested. The length of the PAE on different strains did not correlate in the same way to MIC. Imipenem induced>1 h PAE at 1/4-2 MIC while the cephalosporins caused>1 h PAE at 4−256 × MIC. A PAE exceeding 1.2 h was seen concomitantly with spheroplasts but there was not necessarily strong (≥99 %) initial killing at the same time. The PAE duration at≥99 % initial killing varied between 2.0 h and 5.0 h. When the cephalosporins produced<1 h PAEs, this was seen concomitantly with production of filaments and weak initial killing. The bioluminescence method was not jeopardized by filament formation and no negative PAE was found in contrast to the viable count method. The study showed that neither a certain multiple of MIC, the presence of spheroplasts nor strong initial killing can predict the length of PAE for β-lactam antibiotics on gram-negative bacteria.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Craig WA, Gudmunsson S The postantibiotic effect. In: Lorian V (ed): Antibiotics in laboratory medicine. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 1986, p. 515–536.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bundtzen RW, Gerber AU, Cohn DL, Craig WA Post-antibiotic suppression of bacterial growth. Reviews of Infectious Diseases 1981, 3: 28–37.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Eagle H, Musselman AD The slow recovery of bacteria from the toxic effects of penicillin. Journal of Bacteriology 1949, 58: 475–490.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Gudmunsson S, Vogelman B, Craig WA The in vivo postantibiotic effect of imipenem and other new antimicrobials. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 1986, 18, Supplement E: 67–73.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Vogelman BS, Craig WA Postantibiotic effects. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 1985, 15, Supplement A: 37–46.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Bustamente CI, Drusano GL, Tatem BA, Standiford HC Postantibiotic effect of imipenem onPseudomonas aeruginosa. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 1984, 5: 678–682.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Odenholt I, Isaksson B, Nilsson L, Cars O Postantibiotic and bactericidal effect of imipenem againstPseudomonas aeruginosa. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases 1989, 8: 136–141.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Rennerberg J, Walder M Postantibiotic effects of imipenem, norfloxacin, and amikacin in vitro and in vivo. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 1989, 33: 1714–1720.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Bergan T, Carlson IB, Fuglesang JE An in vitro model for monitoring bacterial responses to antibiotic agents under simulated in vivo conditions. Infection 1980, 8, Supplement 1: 96–102.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Rescott DL, Nix DE, Holden P, Schentag JJ Comparison of two methods for determining in vitro post-antibiotic effects of three antibiotics onEscherichia coli. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 1988, 32: 450–453.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Ravizzola G, Caruso A, Manca N, Savoldi E, Turano A In vitro activity of cefotetan and other cephalosporins ofKlebsiella and resistance to inactivating bacterial enzymes. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 1983, 11, Supplement A: 133–138.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Baquero F, Culebras E, Patrón C, Pérez-Díaz JC, Medrano JC, Vicente MF Postantibiotic effects of imipenem on gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 1986, 18, Supplement E: 47–59.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Lorian V, Ernst J, Amaral L The post-antibiotic effect defined by bacterial morphology. Journal of Antimícrobial Chemotherapy 1989, 23: 485–491.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Hanberger H, Nilsson LE, Kihlström E, Maller R Postantibiotic effect of β-lactam antibiotics onEscherichia coli evaluated by bioluminescence assay of bacterial ATP. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 1990, 34: 102–106.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Nilsson L, Sörén L Selective growth of resistant variants during incubation ofEnterobacteriaceae with four aminoglycosides. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 1986, 18: 317–324.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Kronvall G, Myhre E Differential staining of bacteria in clinical specimens using acridine orange buffered at a low pH. Acta Pathologica et Microbiologica Scandinavica (B) 1977, 58: 249–254.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Molin Ö, Nilsson L, Ånséhn S Rapid detection of bacterial growth in blood cultures by bioluminescent assay of bacterial ATP. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1983, 18: 521–525.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Greenwood D An overview of the response of bacteria to β-lactam antibiotics. Reviews of Infectious Diseases 1986, 8, Supplement 5: 487–495.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Hörnsten EG, Nilsson LE, Elwing H, Lindström I Effects ofEscherichia coli spheroplast formation on assays of H2 and adenosine triphosphate based ampicillin susceptibility tests. Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease 1989, 12: 171–175.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Rolinson GN, MacDonald AC, Wilson DA Bactericidal action of β-lactam antibiotics onEscherichia coli with particular reference to ampicillin and amoxycillin. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 1977, 3: 541–553.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Bergan T, Carlsen IB Bacterial kill rates of amoxycillin and ampicillin at exponentially diminishing concentrations simulating in vivo conditions. Infection 1980, 8, Supplement 1: 103–108.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Kahan FM, Kropp M, Sundelof IG, Birnbaum J Thienamycin: development of imipenem-cilastin. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 1983, 12, Supplement D: 1–35.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Then RL, Angehrn P Ways to overcome cephalosporinase-mediated β-lactam resistance inEnterobacter cloacae. Chemioterapia 1985, 4: 83–89.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Manek N, Andrews JM, Wise R The postantibiotic effect of imipenem. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 1986, 18: 641.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital, 581 85, Linköping, Sweden

    H. Hanberger & R. Maller

  2. Department of Clinical Bacteriology, University Hospital, 581 85, Linköping, Sweden

    L. E. Nilsson & M. Nilsson

Authors
  1. H. Hanberger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. E. Nilsson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Nilsson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. R. Maller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hanberger, H., Nilsson, L.E., Nilsson, M. et al. Post-antibiotic effect of beta-lactam antibiotics on gram-negative bacteria in relation to morphology, initial killing and MIC. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 10, 927–934 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02005446

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02005446

Keywords

Search

Navigation