The comparative effects of erythromycin and amikacin on acute respiratory Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection.

BACKGROUND

One of the most common causes of pneumonia is Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). As with other microbial pathogens, this bacterium tends to develop resistance to various antibiotics. Amikacin and erythromycin, which are from the aminoglycoside and macrolide antibiotic families, are used to treat respiratory infections caused by P. aeruginosa.

OBJECTIVES

This study explored whether amikacin, erythromycin or a combination of both works better against P. aeruginosa acute lung infection.

METHODS

For this study, 32 rats were used. The trachea of rats was exposed aseptically and their lung was infected with P. aeruginosa through trachea. Then, according to the group, they received amikacin, erythromycin or a combination of both for 1 week. Finally, they were euthanised on the 3rd and 7th days post-infection. The macroscopic and microscopic evaluations of the lungs, kidney and liver were performed. The right lung was collected for in vivo bacteriological analysis.

RESULTS

The amikacin group (A group) had a statistically significantly lower macroscopic and microscopic scores than the other groups (p < 0.05). In vivo bacteriological test revealed that the A group had significantly lower lung bacterial load (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, it was concluded that amikacin could help alleviate the respiratory infection caused by P. aeruginosa solely, and it was more effective than erythromycin.