In vitro drug sensitivity of M. avium-intracellulare complex in the presence and absence of dimethyl sulphoxide
Nash, D.R.; Steingrube, V.A.
Microbios 35(140): 71-78
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0026-2633 PMID: 7162431 Document Number: 192370
In vitro growth inhibition of 27 drug resistant isolates of M. avium-intracellulare was compared following continuous culture in the presence of single drugs alone and in combination with 2.5% dimethyl sulphoxide. In the absence of DMSO, 63% of the isolates were inhibited by rifampin and streptomycin, 19% by isoniazid and ethambutol and 4% by ethionamide. Addition of DMSO increased the number of isolates demonstrating growth inhibition by 26-30% for all drugs except ethionamide (11%). The growth inhibitory effect of each drug, whether assayed alone or in combination with DMSO, varied considerably for each strain. Three isolates were inhibited only in the presence of DMSO plus a drug, six isolates demonstrated growth inhibition without any enhanced effect due to DMSO, while the remaining eighteen isolates were sensitive to at least one drug in the presence of DMSO and to different drugs in the absence of DMSO.