Comparative in vitro activities of clarithromycin, azithromycin, and erythromycin against Borrelia burgdorferi

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1993 Aug;37(8):1704-6. doi: 10.1128/AAC.37.8.1704.

Abstract

The in vitro activities of the macrolide antibiotics clarithromycin, 14-hydroxy-clarithromycin, azithromycin, and erythromycin against 19 isolates of Borrelia burgdorferi were investigated. MICs ranged from 0.003 to 0.03 microgram of clarithromycin per ml, 0.007 to 0.03 microgram of 14-hydroxyclarithromycin per ml, 0.003 to 0.03 microgram of azithromycin per ml, and 0.007 to 0.06 microgram of erythromycin per ml. Time-kill studies using the B31 strain of B. burgdorferi demonstrated a > or = 3-log10-unit killing after 72 h with each of the macrolide antibiotics tested in concentrations representing twice the respective MICs.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Azithromycin / pharmacology*
  • Borrelia burgdorferi Group / drug effects*
  • Clarithromycin / pharmacology*
  • Erythromycin / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Mice
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Ticks
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Erythromycin
  • Azithromycin
  • Clarithromycin