Conditions required for the antibacterial activity of zidovudine.

In a study to determine the conditions required for its antibacterial activity, zidovudine was found to be bactericidal against Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium in nutrient broth over 6 h. Zidovudine was also found to be active against ten clinical isolates of Salmonella and Escherichia coli at 1 mg/l, which is a clinically achievable concentration of the drug. Bacterial protein synthesis was required for the bactericidal activity of zidovudine against both Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. Zidovudine was found to be inactive against non-dividing bacteria, as it was unable to kill bacteria of either species when they were suspended in PBS.