Clarithromycin co-administered with amikacin attenuates systemic inflammation in experimental sepsis with Escherichia coli.

To assess the efficacy of clarithromycin as an immunomodulator in experimental sepsis with Escherichia coli, acute pyelonephritis was induced after ligation of the right ureter and injection of the test isolate into the renal pelvis in 40 rabbits. Four groups of treatment were applied with administration of therapy on advent of sepsis-associated pulmonary oedema, as follows: A: controls; B: clarithromycin; C: amikacin, D: both agents. Survival was recorded along with estimation of serum levels of endotoxins (LPS), of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha), malondialdehyde (MDA) and of bacterial counts.