%A Gelber1,3 RH
%A Siu P
%A Tsang M
%A Richard V
%A Chehl SK
%A Murray LP
%T Activity of combinations of dapsone, rifampin, minocycline, clarithromycin, and sparfloxacin against M. leprae-infected mice
%0 Journal Article
%D 1995
%J International Journal of Leprosy and other Mycobacterial Diseases
%P 0148-916X
%V 63
%N 2
%X In these studies we evaluated the activity of low levels of five antimicrobials against Mycobacterium leprae'-infected mice when administered singly and in all possible twoand three-drug combinations. Antibiotics studied were: dapsone (D) 0.0001% in the diet, rifampin (R) 20 mg/kg by gavage once monthly, minocycline (M) 0.004% in the diet, clarithromycin (C) 0.001% in the diet, and sparfloxacin (S) 5 mg/kg by gavage five times weekly. Singly each agent was found bacteriostatic (D + R) or partially bactericidal (M, C, and S) but not fully bactericidal. All 10 two-drug regimens were found at least bacteriostatic, 2 being "partially bactericidal" and 4 being "fully bactericidal." Of the 10 three-drug regimens, 9 were found "fully bactericidal" and the other "partially bactericidal." We conclude that combinations of antibiotics active against M. leprae are generally additive in combination.