Antibiotics and Human Monocyte Function

The influence of thirteen commonly used antibacterial drugs on the chemotactic responsiveness of human blood monocytes in vitro was investigated. Tetracyklin, trimethoprim and fusidic acid at high concentrations produced a significant inhibition of the monocyte response, whereas normal therapeutic concentrations produced insignificant inhibition. Benzylpenicillin, ampicillin, tobramycin, chloramphenicol, metronidazole, rifampicin, clindamycin, sulfametoxazole, cefotaxime and ofloxacin did not alter monocyte migration. From these observations it can be expected that at normal dosages none of the tested drugs will affect monocyte chemotaxis in vivo.