Moxifloxacin versus ampicillin + gentamicin in the therapy of experimental Listeria monocytogenes meningitis

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the antibacterial activity of moxifloxacin and ampicillin 1 gentamicin in the treatment of Listeria monocytogenes meningitis in a rabbit meningitis model. Methods: Meningitis was induced by direct inoculation of a clinical strain isolated from an immunocompromised patient (10 7 cfu/mL) into the cisterna magna of New Zealand rabbits. After 16 h of incubation, rabbits were separated into four groups: moxifloxacin (M), ampicillin 1 gentamicin (A), ampicillin 1 gentamicin 2 (A2) and control (C). Group M received 20 mg/kg moxifloxacin at the end of the incubation time and 5 h later by intravenous (iv) route. Group A received ampicillin (30 mg/kg/h) and gentamicin (2.5 mg/kg/h) by iv route with continuous infusion for 8 h in 36 mL of 0.9% NaCl, group A2 received the same dosage of gentamicin and ampicillin in two different 36 mL 0.9% NaCl solutions and group C did not receive any treatment. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples (0.1‐0.25 mL) were obtained 16 and 24 h after induction of meningitis. Results: At the end of the 16 h of incubation, CSF bacterial counts were similar in all groups (P > 0.05). At the final stage of the study (24 h after induction of meningitis), bacterial counts in all treatment groups were significantly lower than the control group (P 0.05). Conclusions: These data suggest that antibacterial activity of moxifloxacin is similar to ampicillin 1 gentamicin in the treatment of experimental L. monocytogenes meningitis of rabbits.