Susceptibilities of bacterial and fungal urinary tract isolates to desferrioxamine

Desferrioxamine, a safe and effective iron chelator, was evaluated for its antibacterial and antifungal activity. The susceptibilities of 124 urinary tract isolates and 28 clinical isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to desferrioxamine concentrations that are readily achievable in urine were determined. Of all isolates, 27% were inhibited by a concentration of less than or equal to 12.5 mM. Proteus mirabilis and N. gonorrhoeae isolates were particularly susceptible to the chelator. Desferrioxamine appears to have limited potential as an antibacterial agent.