Interaction of azithromycin and human phagocytic cells. Uptake of the antibiotic and the effect on the survival of ingested bacteria in phagocytes.

14C-labeled azithromycin, a new macrolide antibiotic, was accumulated by various phagocytic cells isolated from volunteers or patients. The concentration of the antibiotic in monocytes, polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNLs), and alveolar macrophages was greater than that in the surrounding medium by a factor of between 200 and 668. Azithromycin penetrated somewhat more rapidly into PMNLs and monocytes than into alveolar macrophages. On the other hand the final concentration in the alveolar macrophages was greater by a factor of about 3 than that in the other two phagocytic cells. Staphylococcus aureus, Legionella pneumophila and Haemophilus influenzae previously taken up by the phagocytes were rapidly inactivated by low (0.031-0.5 micrograms/ml) concentrations of the antibiotic, which in the presence of the cells were subinhibitory. There is thus a clear synergism between azithromycin and the phagocytic cells which leads to increased intracellular killing of the bacteria.