International journal of antimicrobial agents
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Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents · Jan 2007
Colistin offers prolonged survival in experimental infection by multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii: the significance of co-administration of rifampicin.
The effect of colistin on bacterial eradication and survival was tested in experimental infection by multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. The thigh infection model was applied in 86 neutropenic Wistar rats. Six rats were used for the induction of neutropenia and for the selection of the dose regimen of colistin; the remainder was equally divided into four groups: A, controls; B, rifampicin; C, colistin; and D, both agents. ⋯ Colistin was effective in prolonging survival in an experimental thigh infection by multidrug-resistant A. baumannii in neutropenic rats. Its activity was enhanced after co-administration with rifampicin. These results mandate the application of colistin in the event of infections by multidrug-resistant pathogens and the need for its co-administration with rifampicin.