Activity of clindamycin with primaquine against Pneumocystis carinii in vitro and in vivo

Abstract

The combination of primaquine with clindamycin is effective in both in vitro and in vivo models of Pneumocystis infection. Primaquine alone at concentrations from 10 to 300 micrograms/ml reduced the numbers of organisms in cultures to less than 7% of control. Significant inhibition was observed down to 0.1 microgram/ml. Clindamycin at 5 micrograms/ml was ineffective alone. Combinations of clindamycin and primaquine in culture at various concentrations were effective, but there was no evidence of true synergy. In rats with established Pneumocystis pneumonia, clindamycin alone at 5 or 225 mg/kg was ineffective. Primaquine alone at 0.5 or 2 mg/kg did not significantly affect the numbers of organisms remaining. The combination of 0.5 mg of primaquine per kg and 225 mg of clindamycin per kg was effective for therapy, lowering the numbers of organisms in the lungs by about 90%. The combination of 2 mg of primaquine per kg and 225 mg of clindamycin per kg was more effective, lowering the numbers of organisms by almost 98%. In the in vivo prophylaxis model, primaquine at 0.1 or 0.2 mg/kg did not prevent the development of Pneumocystis pneumonia in immune-suppressed rats. Clindamycin at 50 mg/kg had a modest effect alone, but at 5 mg/kg all animals became heavily infected. At 0.5 mg/kg, primaquine alone reduced the severity of infection, but seven of eight rats were still infected. In contrast, the combination of 5 mg of clindamycin per kg and 0.5 mg of primaquine per kg prevented infection in 8 of 10 rats; 2 rats had minimal infection. These studies suggest that the combination of clindamycin and primaquine should be tested in therapy or prophylaxis of Pneumocystis infections in humans.