An aspirin regimen of 325 mg is effective in suppressing niacin-induced cutaneous reactions. Increasing the dose to 650 mg does not provide additional benefit.

The antimicrobial activity of lidocaine in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL(f)) was investigated. Clinical respiratory isolates were added to BAL(f) suspensions containing lidocaine and to normal saline. The growth of two of four isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae was significantly reduced in the presence of lidocaine-BAL(f) compared with controls in saline. Growth of Moraxella catarrhalis isolates was reduced in normal saline when compared with BAL(f) containing lidocaine. There was no effect upon the growth of Haemophilus influenzae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans isolates. The recovery of isolates of S. pneumoniae may be reduced below the critical threshold of 10(5) cfu/mL during bronchoscopy when using lidocaine as a local anaesthetic.

The antimicrobial activity of concentrations of selected macrolides found in epithelial cell lining fluid was investigated. Clarithromycin demonstrated greater potency and a significantly longer postantibiotic effect (PAE) than azithromycin againstStreptococcus pneumoniae. Azithromycin displayed greater potency, faster killing, and a longer PAE than clarithromycin againstHaemophilus influenzae. Drug concentrations in epithelial cell lining fluid similar to those found in tissue did not improve the synergistic potential of 14-hydroxy-clarithromycin and indicate that a maximal PAE may exist despite increasing concentrations of drug.

No abstract

No abstract