In vitro susceptibility and in vivo efficacy of antimicrobials in the treatment of Bacteroides fragilis-Escherichia coli infection in mice.

Cefamandole, cefoxitin, cefotetan, ceftizoxime, imipenem plus cilastatin, and ampicillin plus sulbactam were compared in the eradication of subcutaneous abscess in mice caused by Bacteroides fragilis group organisms and Escherichia coli alone or in combination. The abscesses were examined 5 d after inoculation. B. fragilis group reached log10.1-11.0 organisms per abscess and E. coli log11.6-12.5. Imipenem plus cilastatin significantly reduced (in 6.9-10.6 logs) the number of E. coli and all members of B. fragilis group alone or in all combinations. Ampicillin plus sulbactam reduced the numbers of all B. fragilis group (in 4.2-7.2 logs) but was less effective against E. coli (reduction of 1.8-4.2 logs). Cefoxitin was effective in significantly reducing (in 4.9-6.2 logs) the number of E. coli and all members of B. fragilis group alone or in all combinations. Cefotetan was effective against B. fragilis (reduction of 5.1-6.6 logs) and E. coli alone or in combination but did not reduce the number of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bacteroides vulgatus, and Bacteroides ovatus. Ceftizoxime was effective against only B. ovatus (reduction of 3.7-5.8) and E. coli (reduction of 6.0-8.1 logs); it did not reduce the number of other organisms. Cefamandole was effective against only E. coli and was not effective against any member of the B. fragilis group. These in vivo data confirm the in vitro activity of these antimicrobials.