Effect of sodium chloride on gentamicin accumulation by Escherichia coli: Correlation with bacterial growth and viability.

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Abstract
The kinetics of gentamicin accumulation by a sensitive strain of E. coli were investigated at gentamicin concentrations of 0.02-200 .mu.g/ml. Accumulation with time shows 2 energy-dependent phases and is saturable. NaCl delays the onset of the 2nd more rapid energy-dependent phase and decreases the magnitude of gentamicin accumulation for incubations up to 60 min at all gentamicin concentrations tested. Simultaneous determinations of accumulation, cell viability and growth inhibition indicate that antimicrobial activity is correlated with the magnitude of gentamicin accumulation. Altered bacterial accumulation of gentamicin may explain the effect of NaCl on the antimicrobial activity of gentamicin.