In vitro activities of the ketolides telithromycin (HMR 3647) and HMR 3004 compared to those of clarithromycin against slowly growing mycobacteria at pHs 6.8 and 7.4.

The in vitro activities of HMR 3647 (telithromycin) and HMR 3004, two novel semisynthetic ketolides, were investigated and compared with that of the reference macrolide drug, clarithromycin, against 34 strains of slowly growing mycobacteria at pHs 6.8 and 7.4, as determined radiometrically. The MICs at pH 7.4 were about 1 to 2 dilutions lower than those observed at pH 6.8. In terms of the highest to the lowest activity, the three antibiotics could be classified as follows: clarithromycin > HMR 3004 > HMR 3647. Among the species tested, Mycobacterium bovis BCG, M. ulcerans, M. avium, and M. paratuberculosis were moderately susceptible to HMR 3004 and HMR 3647 (MICs at pH 7.4, < or =5.0 and < or =20.0 microg/ml, respectively, versus < or =1.25 microg/ml for clarithromycin), whereas M. tuberculosis, M. africanum, M. bovis, and M. simiae were resistant (MICs, > or =10.0 and > or =40.0 microg/ml, respectively, at pH 7.4). Although not more active than clarithromycin in vitro, the high level of intracellular accumulation of the two ketolides inside phagocytes warrants further screening in experimental animal models.