In vitro efficacy and pharmacodynamic profiles of four polyether ionophores against methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus spp.

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and pharmacodynamic profiles of four ionophores (lasalocid, monensin, narasin and salinomycin) against staphylococcal isolates from clinical cases of human and veterinary staphylococcal infections, and to determine the effect of methicillin resistance on the antimicrobial activity of ionophores. Broth microdilution MIC testing was used to determine antimicrobial activity against 156 staphylococcal isolates of human and veterinary origin. Pharmacodynamic profiles were examined using time‐kill kinetics profiles against an ATCC type strain of Staphylococcus aureus and a clinical isolate of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius . All tests were performed in accordance with CLSI guidelines. All four ionophores demonstrated antimicrobial activity against methicillin‐resistant staphylococci at concentrations similar to those observed for methicillin‐susceptible isolates of the same species. Testing of human and veterinary MRSA isolates also showed that MIC values were not influenced by the host origin of the isolates. Pharmacodynamic profiles were similar for both isolates tested across all four ionophores, with similar reductions in viable cell counts being observed over an 18‐ to 24‐hr period. Lasalocid, monensin, narasin and salinomycin all demonstrated antimicrobial activity against staphylococcal isolates of human and veterinary origins, with activity being unaffected by methicillin resistance status, although some Staphylococcus species‐specific effects were observed that require further investigation.