Autolysis of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is involved in synergism between imipenem and cefotiam.

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Matsuda K, Nakamura K, Adachi Y, Inoue M, Kawakami M

Autolysis of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is involved in synergism between imipenem and cefotiam.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1995 Dec;39(12):2631-4.

PubMed ID

8592992 [ View in PubMed

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Abstract

Imipenem-induced autolysis and the activity of imipenem plus cefotiam were studied in 16 strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The degree of imipenem-induced autolysis and the rate of synergistic action of imipenem plus cefotiam varied among strains and did not correlate with susceptibility to either imipenem or cefotiam. However, the degree of autolysis correlated well with susceptibility to the synergistic action of imipenem plus cefotiam. In methicillin-susceptible S. aureus strains, both imipenem-induced autolysis and the synergistic activity of the combined drugs were less than those observed in MRSA strains. Differences in the degree of autolysis were not due to differences in autolytic enzyme production. The autolysis of imipenem-pretreated MRSA was enhanced further by cefotiam, while treatment of cells in the reverse order did not enhance autolysis. These findings indicate that cell wall impairment in MRSA is caused by exposure to imipenem but not to cefotiam and that this difference in drug actions results in synergism between imipenem and cefotiam. The possible participation of penicillin-binding proteins PBP 2' and PBP4 in the observed effect is discussed.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets

Drug	Target	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Cefotiam	Penicillin-binding protein 1A	Protein	Clostridium perfringens (strain 13 / Type A)	Yes	Inducer	Details