Evaluación farmacocinética/farmacodinámica (PK/PD) de un esquema de administración oral de metronidazol en intervalo ampliado para el manejo de infecciones producidas por Bacteroides fragilis / Pharmacokinetics/pharmacodinamic (PK/PD) evaluation of a short course of oral administration of metronidazole for the management of infections caused by Bacteroides fragilis

Introduction: Metronidazole is the antibiotic of choice for the management of infections caused by anaerobes. Its administration requires multiple daily doses causing increased medication errors. Due to its high post-antibiotic effect and rapid concentration-dependent bactericidal activity, administration of this antibiotic in an extended dosing interval would achieve PK/PD parameters effectively. Objective: To assess the probability of achieving effective PK/PD relationship with the administration of 1,000 mg every 24 hours of metronidazole for Bacteroides fragilis infections. Methods: A clinical trial was conducted in a group of volunteers who received a single oral dose of 500 or 1,000 mg of metronidazole. Determinations of values of Cmax, t max, and AUCC0-24 h. determined using the trapezoidal method, were obtained for a Markov simulation that would allow for determining the likelihood of achieving a AUC0-24 h/MIC ratio above 70 for infections caused by susceptible B. fragilis. Results: Cmax (24,03 ± 6,89 mg/L) and t max (1,20 ± 0.80 hrs) and the value of AUC0-24 h (241.91 ± 48.14 mg * h/L) were determined. The probability of obtaining a AUC0-24 h/MIC ratio greater than 70 was greater than 99%. Conclusion: From a pharmacokinetic perspective, with the administration of a daily dose of 1,000 mg of metronidazole, it is possible to achieve a therapeutic goal of AUC0-24 h/MIC ratio above 70 for the treatment of anaerobic infections.

Introducción: Metronidazol es el antimicrobiano de elección para el manejo de infecciones anaeróbicas. Su administración requiere de dosis múltiples provocando aumento en errores medicamentosos. Debido al efecto post-antibiótico y a la actividad bactericida concentración-dependiente, la administración de metronidazol en intervalos ampliados de administración permitiría alcanzar parámetros PK/PD efectivos. Objetivo: Evaluar la probabilidad de alcanzar una relación PK/PD efectiva con la administración de 1.000 mg cada 24 h de metronidazol para infecciones por Bacteroides fragilis. Método: Se realizó un ensayo clínico sobre un grupo de voluntarios a quienes se les administró una monodosis oral de 500 y 1.000 mg de metronidazol, respectivamente. Se establecieron parámetros farmacocinéticos empleando el método trapezoidal. Se realizó una simulación de Markov que permitiera establecer la probabilidad de alcanzar una relación AUC0-24 h/CIM > 70 en infecciones por B. fragilis. Resultados: Se determinaron los valores de Cmax (24,03 ± 6,89 mg/L), t max (1,20± 0,8h) y AUC0-24 h (241,91 ± 48,14 mg*h/L), con lo cual la probabilidad de alcanzar una relación AUC0-24 h/CIM > 70 con 1.000 mg de metronidazol fue superior a 99%. Conclusión: Con la administración de 1.000 mg cada 24 h sería posible alcanzar una relación PK/PD efectiva para el tratamiento de infecciones anaeróbicas.

Antagonic effect of the inhibition of inducible nitric oxide on the mortality of mice acutely infected with Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis

Sepsis, the leading cause of death in intensive care units, is associated with overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) due to inducible NO synthase (iNOS), responsible for some of the pathologic changes. Aminoguanidine (AG) is a selective iNOS inhibitor with reported inconsistent actions in sepsis. To investigate the influence of iNOS, we studied models of acute bacterial sepsis using acute challenges with aerobic (Escherichia coli) and anaerobic (Bacteroides fragilis) bacteria in the presence of AG. Six-week-old, 23 g, male and female BALB/c and C57Bl/6j mice, in equal proportions, were inoculated (ip) with bacteria in groups of 4 animals for each dose and each experiment in the absence or presence of AG (50 mg/kg, ip, starting 24 h before challenge and daily until day 6) and serum nitrate was measured by chemiluminescence. Both types of bacteria were lethal to mice, with an LD50 of 6 nephelometric units (U) for E. coli and 8 U for B. fragilis. Nitrate production peaked on the second day after E. coli inoculation with 8 and 6 U (P < 0.05), but was absent after non-lethal lower doses. After challenge with B. fragilis this early peak occurred at all tested doses after 24 h, including non-lethal ones (P < 0.05). AG-treated mice challenged with E. coli presented higher survival (P < 0.05) and increased LD50. AG-treated mice challenged with B. fragilis had lower LD50 and higher mortality. Control AG-treated animals presented no toxic effects. The opposite effect of iNOS blockade by AG in these models could be explained by restriction of oxygen for immune cells or an efficient action of NO in anaerobic localized infections. The antagonic role of NO production observed in our bacterial models could explain the reported discrepancy of NO action in sepsis.

Infections in the bite site after envenoming by snakes of the Bothrops genus

Envenomation caused by snakes of the Bothrops genus produces a lesion in the bite site and can result in extensive necrosis. The dead tissue can be secondarily infected by bacteria that come from the snake, and the bacteria can be inoculated at the moment of the bite. The bacteria that most commonly cause infection are the enterobacteria, mainly Morganella morganii, Proteus rettgeri, Enterobacter sp., and Escherichia coli. Group D streptococci including here Enterococcus sp. and the Bacteroides sp. are also involved. Based on a study of the sensibility of these bacteria, it has been suggested that this infection must be treated with chloramphenicol, as a sole antimicrobial agent, or with the combinations of benzylpenicillin or ampicillin with aminoglycoside or trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Although Governmental Health Services do not recommend the prophylactic use of antimicrobial drugs, it is not yet clear that such a procedure would not be useful in cases with a high probability of infection.