Bacteriological study on effects of beta-lactam group antibiotics in high concentrations.

The growth and viability of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa exposed to various concentrations of a number of beta-lactam group antibiotics were determined. In S. aureus, the bacteriolytic and bactericidal activity of these drugs was lower at very high drug concentrations than that occurring at low concentrations, but these phenomena were not observed in E. coli and P. aeruginosa. Under phase-contrast and scanning electron microscopy, S. aureus treated with high concentrations of beta-lactam group antibiotics revealed a lower frequency of bacteriolysis than at low drug concentrations, and similarly by transmission electron microscopy fewer cells were transformed into spheroplasts at high drug concentrations. However, swelling of the cell wall septum was seen in many cells. Spheroplast formation occurred with the highest frequency at drug levels near the minimum inhibitory concentration and became less frequent as drug concentrations were increased.