Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of new 7β-(benzo[a]dihydrocarbazolyloxyacetyl)-substituted cephalosporins

• Published in: Farmaco (Società chimica italiana : 1989) Vol. 59; no. 9; pp. 691 - 696
• Main Authors: Rossello, Armando, Orlandini, Elisabetta, Nuti, Elisa, Rapposelli, Simona, Macchia, Marco, Di Modugno, Enza, Balsamo, Aldo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Elsevier SAS 01.09.2004
• Subjects: 7β-(benzo[a]dihydrocarbazolyloxyacetyl)-substituted; Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemical synthesis; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antimicrobial activity; Cephalosporins; Cephalosporins - chemical synthesis; Cephalosporins - pharmacology; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests - statistics & numerical data; Staphylococcus - drug effects; Staphylococcus - growth & development; Staphylococcus aureus; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Cephalosporins; Antimicrobial activity; 7β-(benzo[a]dihydrocarbazolyloxyacetyl)-substituted
• ISSN: 0014-827X; 1879-0569
• DOI: 10.1016/j.farmac.2004.05.001

Selected 7β-(benzo[a]dihydrocarbazolyloxyacetyl)-substituted cephalosporins ( 1a–e) were synthesised and tested for their antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative clinical pathogens. All compounds synthesised ( 1a–e) showed an in vitro antimicrobial activity similar to that of ceftriaxone and cefpirome against the Gram-positive bacteria, and superior to that of penicillin and cefaclor against pen-R Staphylococcus aureus species. Like all β-lactam agents, compounds 1a–e were in an inactive Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC > 32 μg/ml) against methicillin-resistant S. aureus species. Furthermore, as expected, no cross-resistance was observed against the erythromycin-resistant Staphylococcus pyogenes strain. Finally, it is worth underlining that compounds 1a and 1e showed a similar activity to that of ceftriaxone and superior to cefaclor against penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates, a key respiratory tract infection (RTI) causing pathogen difficult to treat with currently marketed antibiotics.