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Hyperbaric oxygen suppresses growth of Klebsiella pneumoniae and enhances effect of tigecycline in vitro

Objectives: (1) To examine whether hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) will inhibit growth of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (MDR-K. pneumoniae) and extensively drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (XDR-K. pneumoniae); (2) To determine whether the effect of tigecycline on XDR-K. pneumoniae will be enhanced by HBO2. 

Methods: The effects of 1.5 hours of treatment with normoxia (21% O2, 1 atmosphere absolute/ATA) or HBO2 (100% O2, 2 ATA) on bacterial counts of eight isolates of MDR-K. pneumoniae and eight isolates of XDRK. pneumoniae were studied. The effects of five hours of treatment with normoxia (21% O2, 1 ATA), tigecycline (21% O2, 1 ATA), HBO2 (100% O2, 3 ATA) or HBO2 + tigecycline (100% O2, 3 ATA) on proliferation of 10 isolates of XDR-K. pneumoniae were investigated. 

Results: HBO2 at 100% O2, 2 ATA, 1.5 hours suppressed growth of MDR-K. pneumoniae but had no effect on XDR-K. pneumoniae. HBO2 at 100% O2, 3 ATA, five hours enhanced the effects of tigecycline on XDR-K. pneumoniae. 

Conclusion: HBO2 in combination with or without tigecycline can be used to eliminate K. pneumoniae in vitro, and such treatment may be beneficial for patients with infections caused by K. pneumoniae.

DOI: 10.22462/11.12.2017.5