Therapeutic efficacy of buforin II and rifampin in a rat model of Acinetobacter baumannii sepsis.

Abstract

To investigate the efficacy of buforin II and rifampin in an experimental rat model of Acinetobacter baumannii sepsis. Prospective, randomized, controlled animal study. Research laboratory in a university hospital. Adult male Wistar rats. The animals received intraperitoneally 1 mL saline containing 2 x 10 colony forming units of A. baumannii ATCC 19606 (model i) or the multiresistant strain (model ii). Immediately after bacterial challenge, animals received intravenously a single dose of isotonic sodium chloride solution (control groups C1 and C2), 1 mg/kg of buforin II, 10 mg/kg of rifampin, and 1 mg/kg of buforin II plus 10 mg/kg of rifampin, respectively. Lethality, bacterial growth in blood and tissue burden, endotoxin, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentrations in plasma. Buforin II showed good antimicrobial activity and achieved a significant reduction of plasma endotoxin and cytokines concentration when compared with control and rifampin-treated groups. Combination among buforin II proved to be the most effective treatment in reducing all variables measured. In an experimental model, buforin II and rifampin might have a potential role in the treatment of severe infections due to A. baumannii.