TY - JOUR
T1 - Synergistic combinations of clarithromycin with doxycycline or minocycline reduce the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in Rhodococcus equi
AU - Erol, Erdal
AU - Shaffer, Carrie L
AU - Lubbers, Brian V.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 EVJ Ltd.
PY - 2022/7
Y1 - 2022/7
N2 - Background: The alarming increase in rifampin and macrolide resistance among Rhodococcus equi isolates highlights the need to identify alternative therapeutic options that can effectively control rhodococcosis in foals while limiting the further development of drug resistance. Objectives: To evaluate bacterial killing, antibiotic synergism and mutant prevention concentrations (MPCs) of clarithromycin alone and in combination with doxycycline, minocycline or rifampin against clinical isolates of R equi. Study design: In vitro experiments. Methods: Bacterial time-kill, fractional inhibitory concentration (checkerboard) and mutant prevention concentration assays were evaluated in four clarithromycin- and rifampin-susceptible (ClaS/RifS) and two clarithromycin- and rifampin-resistant (ClaR/RifR) R equi clinical strains. Results: In this study evaluating a limited number of isolates, combinations of clarithromycin with doxycycline or minocycline, but not with rifampin, were generally synergistic in both ClaS/RifS and ClaR/RifR strains as determined by checkerboard testing. In time-kill assays, all antibiotics, both alone and in combination, reduced viable ClaS/RifS R equi by more than 3 log10 at 24 hours compared with control cultures without antibiotics. Combinations of clarithromycin with doxycycline, minocycline or rifampin induced significantly lower MPC values compared with the individual antimicrobials alone for all ClaS/RifS R equi strains, resulting in a narrower mutant selection window (MSW). However, clarithromycin/rifampin combination did not markedly decrease MPCs of the individual antimicrobials in ClaR/RifR R equi isolates, and the observed decrease in MPCs for doxycycline or minocycline did not generally differ when combined with clarithromycin. Main limitations: The number of analysed R equi isolates was limited. In vitro outcomes require clinical confirmation. Conclusions: Dual therapy combinations consisting of clarithromycin with doxycycline or minocycline merit consideration as a treatment protocol against R equi in foals due to in vitro synergy. These combination therapies may also minimise the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in cases of rhodococcosis.
AB - Background: The alarming increase in rifampin and macrolide resistance among Rhodococcus equi isolates highlights the need to identify alternative therapeutic options that can effectively control rhodococcosis in foals while limiting the further development of drug resistance. Objectives: To evaluate bacterial killing, antibiotic synergism and mutant prevention concentrations (MPCs) of clarithromycin alone and in combination with doxycycline, minocycline or rifampin against clinical isolates of R equi. Study design: In vitro experiments. Methods: Bacterial time-kill, fractional inhibitory concentration (checkerboard) and mutant prevention concentration assays were evaluated in four clarithromycin- and rifampin-susceptible (ClaS/RifS) and two clarithromycin- and rifampin-resistant (ClaR/RifR) R equi clinical strains. Results: In this study evaluating a limited number of isolates, combinations of clarithromycin with doxycycline or minocycline, but not with rifampin, were generally synergistic in both ClaS/RifS and ClaR/RifR strains as determined by checkerboard testing. In time-kill assays, all antibiotics, both alone and in combination, reduced viable ClaS/RifS R equi by more than 3 log10 at 24 hours compared with control cultures without antibiotics. Combinations of clarithromycin with doxycycline, minocycline or rifampin induced significantly lower MPC values compared with the individual antimicrobials alone for all ClaS/RifS R equi strains, resulting in a narrower mutant selection window (MSW). However, clarithromycin/rifampin combination did not markedly decrease MPCs of the individual antimicrobials in ClaR/RifR R equi isolates, and the observed decrease in MPCs for doxycycline or minocycline did not generally differ when combined with clarithromycin. Main limitations: The number of analysed R equi isolates was limited. In vitro outcomes require clinical confirmation. Conclusions: Dual therapy combinations consisting of clarithromycin with doxycycline or minocycline merit consideration as a treatment protocol against R equi in foals due to in vitro synergy. These combination therapies may also minimise the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in cases of rhodococcosis.
KW - Prescottella equi
KW - Rhodococcus equi
KW - Rhodococcus hoagii
KW - clarithromycin
KW - doxycycline
KW - horse
KW - minocycline
KW - mutant prevention concentration
KW - rifampin
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U2 - 10.1111/evj.13508
DO - 10.1111/evj.13508
M3 - Article
C2 - 34480367
AN - SCOPUS:85115254600
SN - 0425-1644
VL - 54
SP - 799
EP - 806
JO - Equine Veterinary Journal
JF - Equine Veterinary Journal
IS - 4
ER -