Effect of some medicine cancer Cytotoxic Drugs on virulent bacteria E. coli injected in laboratory rats

Abstract

Isolates of E. coli were exposed to sub-minimal inhibitory concentration of
each of the cytotoxic drugs MTX, 6-MP, VCR for 4 weeks . Aliquots of 0.5 ml
containing 5 x 10⁶ CFU were injected in the peritoneal cavity of Balb/C mice .
Results revealed that the bacteria exposed to either MTX & 6-MP were more
virulent than those exposed to VCR or those not exposed to any cytotoxic drug .
After one hour from injection, the mice demonstrated bacteremia at a ratio of
5/5 then died within 3 days; histopathological examination revealed signs of
acute inflammation. Mice injected with bacterial suspension exposed to VCR,
have demonstrated symptoms after 3 hours of injection and bacteremia was
demonstrated by the ratio of 2/5 and the animals died subsequently, whereas no
infection was recorded in mice injected with bacterial suspension not exposed to
the cytotoxic drugs and all remained alive.