Effective treatment of the Mycobacterium avium subsp hominissuis and Mycobacterium abscessus sp. infections in macrophages, biofilm and in mice using Liposomal ciprofloxacin [PublishAheadOfPrint]

Non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) affects an increasing number of individuals worldwide. The infection is more common in patients with chronic lung conditions, and treatment is challenging. Quinolones, such as ciprofloxacin, have been used to treat patients, but the results have not been encouraging. In this report, we evaluate novel formulations of liposome-encapsulated ciprofloxacin (liposomal ciprofloxacin) in vitro and in vivo. Efficacy was examined in macrophages, biofilms and in vivo using intranasal instillation mouse models against Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium abscessus. Liposomal ciprofloxacin was significantly more active than free ciprofloxacin in macrophages and biofilms against both pathogens. When evaluated in vivo, the liposomal ciprofloxacin formulations were associated with significant decreases in bacterial loads in the lung of animals infected with M. avium and M. abscessus.

In summary, topical delivery of liposomal ciprofloxacin in the lung at concentrations greater than achieved in the serum can be effective in the treatment of NTM and further evaluation is warranted.

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