Metronidazole lacks antibacterial activity in guinea pigs infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2008 Nov;52(11):4137-40. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00196-08. Epub 2008 Aug 11.

Abstract

Metronidazole, which is used for the treatment of infections caused by anaerobic organisms, was evaluated in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected guinea pigs. M. tuberculosis can adapt to hypoxia, which is present in the primary lesions of infected guinea pigs. Metronidazole treatment (for 6 weeks at 100 mg/kg of body weight) resulted in no reduction in the bacillary burden and significantly worsened lesion inflammation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antitubercular Agents / pharmacology*
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Female
  • Guinea Pigs
  • Isoniazid / pharmacology
  • Lung / drug effects
  • Lung / microbiology
  • Lung / pathology
  • Metronidazole / pharmacology*
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / drug effects
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / isolation & purification
  • Pyrazinamide / pharmacology
  • Rifampin / pharmacology
  • Spleen / drug effects
  • Spleen / microbiology
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / drug therapy*
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / microbiology
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / pathology

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Metronidazole
  • Pyrazinamide
  • Isoniazid
  • Rifampin