Enhanced antimycobacterial efficacy of simulated inhaled clofazimine versus oral clofazimine in combination with azithromycin and ethambutol in a hollow-fiber system.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objectives

Treatment outcomes in Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease may be improved by adding clofazimine, instead of rifampicin, to the azithromycin-ethambutol backbone. Inhalation of clofazimine instead of oral administration has been suggested to increase the antibiotic concentration at the site of infection and to improve its efficacy, while minimizing systemic exposure and adverse effects. We evaluated the efficacy of inhaled clofazimine compared to oral clofazimine with an azithromycin-ethambutol backbone against M. avium.

Methods

We simulated pharmacokinetic exposures to azithromycin, ethambutol and either inhalational or oral clofazimine administration in an in vitro hollow-fiber system during 3 weeks. Intracellular and extracellular Mycobac

SUBMITTER: Raaijmakers J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12802879 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature