Using a recently described ex vivo model, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 released by peripheral blood monocytes after killing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus by ceftazidime, imipenem, and meropenem was measured. Cytokine release was highest with ceftazidime and lowest with imipenem for both bacteria (p < 0.05), although cytokine concentrations were much lower after killing of Staphylococcus aureus. Differences in cytokine release rates induced by various cell-wall active antibiotics have not yet been described for gram-positive organisms and should be studied further.

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