In vitro activity of subinhibitory concentrations of quinolones on urea-splitting bacteria: effect on urease activity and on cell surface hydrophobicity.

The effect of subinhibitory concentrations of ciprofloxacin, lomefloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, and sparfloxacin on urease activity and on cell surface hydrophobicity of urea-splitting bacteria was examined. Quinolones at 0.5 MICs demonstrated variable effects on bacterial-urease activity. Norfloxacin inhibited enzyme activity in Proteus vulgaris and Proteus mirabilis, while other quinolones had no effects. In Morganella morganii, sparfloxacin and ciprofloxacin enhanced urease activity, particularly at the initial phase of growth. All quinolones tested showed no marked effect on urease activity by Providencia rettgeri. Quinolones at the same concentrations induced an increase in the cell surface hydrophobicity, which was strain-dependent. There was no correlation between urease inhibition and cell surface hydrophobicity. Inhibition of urease activity by quinolones, in addition to their antibacterial activities, may prevent the progression of urinary tissue damage and stone formation.