In vivo activity of anprocide alone, and in vitro activity in combination with conventional antibiotics against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms

The alarming spread of multiple drug resistance in Staphylococcus aureus, combined with the frequent occurrence of S. aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis in biofilm-type infections, indicates a growing need for new therapies. The experimental steroidal amide anprocide [3β-acetoxy-17β- (L-prolyl)amino-5α-androstane] significantly reduced c.f.u. ml ^-1 per suture (P <0.0001) in a murine model of topical S. aureus infection. In chequerboard assays with planktonic-grown S. aureus and S. epidermidis, anprocide was synergistic with bacitracin, oxacillin, clindamycin or ceftriaxone. Anprocide was also synergistic in combination with bacitracin or oxacillin against some isolates of biofilm-grown S. aureus and S. epidermidis.