Synergy Between Ticarcillin and Tobramycin Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacteriaceae In Vitro and In Vivo

The antibacterial activities of ticarcillin, carbenicillin, tobramycin, and gentamicin and of combinations of these antibiotics were measured against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other gram-negative bacilli in vitro and in experimental mouse infections. Synergistic effects were produced by the penicillin/aminoglycoside combinations in growth inhibition tests and in bactericidal tests against many of the bacteria tested. Combinations of ticarcillin + tobramycin were more active in vitro than carbenicillin + gentamicin against P. aeruginosa but were no more active than the latter against other gram-negative bacilli. Ticarcillin + tobramycin and carbenicillin + gentamicin also demonstrated synergistic activities against P. aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Enterobacter cloacae in experimental mouse infection models. Thus, the penicillin/aminoglycoside combinations produced greater protective effects than the individual antibiotics against lethal intraperitoneal infections and also were more effective in reducing kidney counts of viable bacteria and kidney abscess formation in experimental pyelonephritis infections. As was the case in vitro, ticarcillin + tobramycin was more effective than carbenicillin + gentamicin against the experimental P. aeruginosa infections. The results of these in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that combined therapy with ticarcillin and tobramycin may be warranted in the treatment of serious infections due to P. aeruginosa and Enterobacteriaceae.