Influence of β-Lactam Antibiotics, Fosfomycin and Vancomycin on the Adherence (Hemagglutination) of Escherichia coli-Containing Different Adhesins

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Abstract
The adherence of E. coli of certain adhesion types can be influenced by subinhibitory concentrations of .beta.-lactam antibiotics [latamoxef, thienamycin, azthrenam, vancomycin, fosfomycin, ampicillin, ticarcillin, piperacillin, mecillinam, cefoxitin, thienamycin, cefuroxime and cephalothin]. Subinhibitory concentrations (1/4 MIC [minimal inhibitory concentration]) of those penicillin and cephalosporin compounds which lead to filament formation increase mannose-sensitive adhesion (MS+). Antibiotics with oviod cell formation did not change or only slightly reduced MS+ adherence. Strains with mannose-resistant (MR+) adhesions were not affected by these antibiotics. Only azthreonam increased the adherence of both MS+ and MR+ strains. Vancomycin and fosfomycin reduced the adherence of all strains tested. The degree of change was strain and antibiotic specific. No relation could be detected between the changes of adherence and the changes of hydrophobicity under the influence of antibiotics. EM investigation has no yet yielded an explanation of the observed phenomenon.