Influence of cefmenoxime, ceftriaxone, latamoxef, and ceftazidime on the lysis of Klebsiella pneumoniae: a light and electron microscopic study.

The influence of antibiotics on the morphologic alterations of the cell wall of Klebsiella pneumoniae serotype K 17 has been studied by electron microscopy as well as by phase-contrast microscopy. Ceftazidime, cefmenoxime, ceftriaxone, and latamoxef were the antibiotics used. The effect of each concentration between 0.03 and 1,024 mg/liter was investigated on 5 X 10(7) bacteria per milliliter. Two different reactions could be detected: ceftazidime and latamoxef produced at first long forms and suddenly lysis; cefmenoxime and ceftriaxone produced at first long forms, later spherical forms, and then gradually lysis.