Synergistic effect of gentamicin plus ampicillin on enterococci with differing sensitivity to gentamicin: A phenotypic assessment of NCCLS guidelines

Between December 1, 1993, and December 1, 1996, we tested 4,411 isolates of Enterococcus sp. at gentamicin concentrations of 500 mu g/mL and 2000 mu g/mL using agar dilution to phenotypically categorize them into 3 groups: those with a MIC less than or equal to 500 mu g/mL (n = 3,132; 71%); a MIC >500, but less than or equal to 2000 mu g/mL (n = 441; 10%); and those with a MIC >2000 mu g/mL (n = 838; 19%). Ten unique strains of each phenotype were tested to determine which gentamicin concentration was the best in vitro predictor of synergy with ampicillin. Testing was done by a time-kill method using clinically achievable levels of ampicillin and gentamicin. We found that for the gentamicin MIC less than or equal to 500 mu g/mL group, 7 of 10 isolates demonstrated synergy with ampicillin as manifested by a greater than or equal to 2 log(10) increase in killing versus the effect of ampicillin alone (at 1/2 the MIC for ampicillin). In the group sensitive to a gentamicin MIC range between >500 and less than or equal to 2,000 mu g/mL, none of the 10 isolates demonstrated synergy. Absence of synergy was also found in the group resistant to 2,000 mu g/mL of gentamicin. Assessment of eight additional enterococcal isolates with reduced sensitivity to ampicillin (MIC from 32-256 mu g/mL) found no correlation between gentamicin sensitivity at 500 mu g/mL and any in vitro test for synergy, nor with clinical therapeutic outcome. Gentamicin at 2 mu g/mL combined with ampicillin was as effective in enhancing killing as a higher level of 4 mu g/mL. These findings validate the current NCCLS guideline for predicting synergistic activity against enterococci in strains with usual susceptibility to ampicillin, and suggest that a therapeutic level less than maximal recommended dosing is sufficient when using gentamicin in this setting. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.