Bactericidal activity of cefoperazone with CP-45,899 against large inocula of beta-lactamase-producing Haemophilus influenzae.

Bactericidal activity of cefoperazone, alone and in combination with the beta-lactamase inhibitor CP-45,899, was tested against inocula of 10(7) colony-forming units of beta-lactamase-producing isolates of Haemophilus influenzae type b per ml. Of 19 strains tested, 10 required greater than or equal to 64 microgram of cefoperazone per ml for killing, whereas no strains were killed by less than 64 microgram of CP-45,899 per ml. Synergy occurred with the combination of 4 microgram of each agent per ml against 9 of the 10 cefoperazone-resistant strains.