Therapeutic effects of cefluprenam (CFLP) on polymicrobial infections associated with Enterococcus faecalis in rat pyometra model

Enterococcus faecalis plays an important role as one of the pathogens in polymicrobial infections. We evaluated the efficacy of cefluprenam (CFLP) using a polymicrobial pyometra of a model rat. Rats were infected with a mixed intrauterine inoculation of E. faecalis plus either Bacteroides fragilis or Prevotella bivia (minimal inhibitory concentration of CFLP: E. faecalis, 3.13 mu g/ml; B. fragilis, 3.13 mu g/ml; P. bivia, 3.13 mu g/ml). Immediately after inoculating 10(5) cfu/rat of each organism, CFLP (either 40 mg/kg, i.v., q.i.d. for 5 days or 80 mg/kg, i.v., b.i.d. for 5 days) was administered. The intrauterine inflammatory change and bacterial count in the treated group were compared with those in the non-treated control group. CFLP significantly (P < 0.01) decreased the bacterial counts except for B. fragilis in the regimen of 80 mg/kg, b.i.d. However, the regimen of 40 mg/kg, q.i.d. significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the bacterial counts more than did that of 80 mg/kg, b.i.d. CFLP proved to demonstrate a good tissue concentration above 3 mu g/g for 1 h. These results suggest that CFLP in a more divided dose is efficacious for the treatment of polymicrobial infections associated with E. faecalis in pyometra. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.