THE COMBINATION EFFECT OF SULFAMETHOXAZOLE AND TRIMETHOPRIM AGAINST ANIMAL INTESTINAL BACTERIA

Combination effects of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and trimethoprim (TMP) against nine gram positive bacterial strains and 43 gram negative bacterial strains which included 40 strains of animal intestinal bacteria were studied in vitro. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of SMX and TMP alone and 20:1 (SMX : TMP) mixture (ST) were investigated by the method recommended by Ad Hoc Committee of the Japan Society of Chemotherapy for the Evaluation of Sensitivity Testing Methods for Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim. MICs of ST were more potentiated than those of SMX alone in 8 of 9 gram positive strains and 40 of 43 gram negative strains. Especially, 38 strains of 40 intestinal bacteria showed significant susceptibility to ST as compared to SMX. These results suggest a strong synergistic activity of ST mixture against animal intestinal bacteria, The activity was considered to be comparable to those of other current antibiotics.