Regresar

Endotoxin, antibiotics, and inflammation in gram-negative infections

Abstract:

This chapter discusses the mechanisms of antibiotic-induced endotoxin release during the treatment of gram-negative infections, as well as its possible clinical implications. At least three mechanisms have been demonstrated to contribute to the increase in amount of endotoxin after exposure to antibiotics: It is conceivable that during antimicrobial treatment other microbial constituents are also released, contributing to inflammation. These observations in humans suggest that treatment with antibiotics may cause systemic or local endotoxin liberation. The lower endotoxin release resulting from treatment with PBP 1or 2-specific antibiotics may be explained by their rapid bacterial action, which prevents an increase in total cell mass. Fear of endotoxin release caused by effective antibiotics is not justified in the treatment of severe meningococcal infections. In a number of animal studies, these differences between …