Antibacterial action of the urease inhibitor acetohydroxamic acid on Helicobacter pylori.

The urease inhibitor acetohydroxamic acid (AHA) was assessed for its bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects on Helicobacter pylori. For eight isolates of H pylori, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was either 200 mg/l or 400 mg/l. Interactions between AHA and antimicrobial drugs used to treat H pylori were also determined. For most isolates AHA reduced the MIC for colloidal bismuth subcitrate (CBS), tetracycline, metronidazole, and amoxicillin. In a few isolates, however, AHA increased the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) for these antimicrobial treatments. In vitro AHA is active against H pylori and it interacts with other agents directed against H pylori.