Effect of methylprednisolone on bacterial clearance and endotoxin liberation during experimental sepsis induced by gram-negative bacteria.

To determine the effect of methylprednisolone administration on the clearance of bacteremia and the release and clearance of endotoxin during antibiotic therapy of gram-negative bacterial sepsis, Escherichia coli K1 sepsis was induced in paired rabbits. Moxalactam and either methylprednisolone or placebo were administered to infected rabbits 1.5 h after intraperitoneal administration of live bacteria. Serial blood samples were obtained for quantitation of bacteremia and endotoxemia, arterial blood gases, and complete blood count. Arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and core body temperature were also monitored. There were no significant differences between the methylprednisolone-treated and placebo-treated groups in either the levels of bacteremia or endotoxemia or in the physiologic, metabolic, or hematologic parameters that were measured. We conclude that methylprednisolone administration has no acute effect on bacterial clearance or on the kinetics of endotoxin release and clearance during antibiotic therapy of gram-negative bacterial sepsis in this experimental model.