ACTIVITIES OF CLARITHROMYCIN, OFLOXACIN, AND CLARITHROMYCIN PLUS ETHAMBUTOL AGAINST MYCOBACTERIUM-SIMIAE IN MURINE MODEL OF DISSEMINATED INFECTION

After 2 weeks of intravenous challenge with Mycobacterium simiae, ICR outbred mice were treated with clarithromycin, ofloxacin, or clarithromycin pins ethambutol for 4 weeks. All three therapy groups demonstrated a decrease in the level of infection in both the lungs and the spleen. There were no significant differences among the three treated groups in decreasing mycobacterial counts in the lungs; however, both ofloxacin and clarithromycin plus ethambutol were superior to clarithromycin alone in reducing the level of infection in the spleen. Results of the study suggest a potential role for these agents in the treatment of human M. simiae infection.