The in vitro effect of sulbactam on polymorphonuclear leukocyte function.

The effects of sulbactam on polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) chemotaxis, respiratory burst, and microbicidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus were evaluated in vitro. PMNs from normal adult volunteers were incubated with 0.5, 2, 5, 10, and 20 micrograms/ml of sulbactam for 30 min each. At concentrations of 5 and 10 micrograms/ml, sulbactam was found to enhance PMN bactericidal activity. No inhibitory effects on PMN function were noted at the concentrations of sulbactam that were tested. In addition, the in vitro inhibitory effect of ampicillin on PMN chemiluminescence was partially abrogated by the presence of sulbactam. These findings suggest that the microbicidal phagocytic response of human PMNs against S. aureus may be improved in vitro using concentrations of sulbactam that may be readily achieved with therapeutic doses of sulbactam/ampicillin.