(Fusafungine) — A Non-Systemic Antibiotic

J Int Med Res (19ΊΊ) 5, 61
An Assessment of the Bacteriological Activity of Locabiotal
(Fusafungine) — A Non-Systemic Antibiotic
David Haler, MB, DCP, FRCPath, Honorary
(All Saints Centre), London, England
Consulting Pathologist to Westminster
Hospital,
Various tests were performed to establish the bacteriological potency of
Locabiotal, an aerosol for local application to the nose and throat containing
fusafungine. Using impregnated filter paper on a plate of solid sensitivity
media considerable inhibition of the growth of common pathogens was
shown. Plates of nasal swabs from adults and buccal swabs from children
showed similar inhibition. Further tests after the application of the spray
to the nose and throat indicated that inhibition lasts for at least eight hours.
Introduction
There has been growing concern regarding
the indiscriminate use of systemic antibiotics
for such relatively trivial conditions as throat
infections. Because of this concern, increased
interest has been shown in the use of local
aerosol applications. Locabiotal is such an
aerosol which has been widely used on the
continent of Europe for both respiratory
(Abruzzi & Cohen 1972, Cohen 1968,
Marland et al 1971, Ricard Selva 1975,
Therond 1972) and E N T infections (Bagot &
Guérin 1964, Black 1964, Masson 1964,
Nicougar 1964, Piaget & Gros 1972, Piquet,
Hequet & Decroix 1969, Portmann 1964
and Richard, Forest & Pinel 1972). Its effect­
iveness has been confirmed by many clinical
trials.
Aims and Method
Larribaud & N a r b o n n e (1971) have shown
that Locabiotal has both high bactericidal
and bacteriostatic properties when tested
against a variety of pathogens. Marland et al
(1971), in a more restricted study, showed
that in patients suffering from chronic respira­
tory deficiency Locabiotal was capable of
producing total disappearance or significant
reduction in the microbial population of the
sputum of thirty patients.
The purpose of this study was to gather
more evidence about the bacteriological
potency of Locabiotal.
Locabiotal was supplied in pressurized
containers with either nasal or pharyngeal
applicators. Each container held 10 ml and
was metered to give 200 doses. Each 10 ml
of Locabiotal contains 25 mg of fusafungine
together with propellants, solvents and
perfume.
Sterile Number One filter papers were
sprayed with Locabiotal from a distance of
30 mm using the oral applicator and ad­
ministering to each paper one metered dose.
F o u r 3 mm discs were prepared from the
treated paper. These discs were then placed
The Journal of International
62
Medical
Research
Table 1
Organism
Inhibition
Staph Aureus, coagulase positive. Type 43
Staph Aureus, coagulase positive, insensitive to routine antibiotics
Staph Aureus, derived from nasal swabs, strongly β haemolytic and coagulase positive
Staph Albus I derived from skin
Staph Albus II of nasal origin
Alpha haemolytic streptococci
Nasal Alpha haemolytic streptococci
Streptococcus pyogenes β haemolytic (A)
Neisseria catarrhalis, nasal origin
Neisseria catarrhalis, mixed origin
Pneumococcus Typs I
Pneumococcus Type Π
Pneumococcus Type III
Pneumococcus (freshly isolated from infected nose)
Corynebacterium xerosis
E. Coli I
E. Coli II
Ε. Coli III
Proteus II
Proteus 11, a wide-spreading type ("swarming")
Pseudomonas 1 (A)
Pseudomonas of mixed type and freshly isolated from nose
Pseudomonas II
Candida I
Candida II
Candida III of vaginal origin
21 mms
18 mms
24 mms
30 mms
32 mms
26 mms
32 mms
20 mms
26 mms
27 mms
28 mms
26 mms
26 mms
28 mms
30 mms
18 mms
16 mms
20 mms
14 mms
26 mms
15 mms*
6 mms*
6 mms*
18 mms
28 mms
26 mms
* Doubtful zones of inhibition
quickly onto previously seeded plates.
Each set of four discs received 0 05 ml of
the spray solution containing 0 - 1 2 5 m g of
fusafungine. The four circular discs each
represented one sixth of the area of the
whole filter sheet and thus each contained
0-02 mg of fusafungine.
The method used was the usual plate
method employing solid sensitivity media
with such added nutrients as were considered
necessary.
Results
Aseptic control plates were prepared. N o
growth was obtained on these plates.
Table 1 shows the measured zones of
inhibition in mms from the edge of the test
disc, for a variety of list organisms. The
figures given are the average of six tests per
organism.
Table 2
Volunteer
Inhibition
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
28
36
24
32
30
22
28
26
22
24
mm
mm
mm
mm
mm
mm
mm
mm
mm
mm
Table 2 shows the results obtained from
nasal swabs from ten volunteers using a
blood Agar technique (Haler). The table
D Haler
63
shows the zones of inhibition in the ten
subjects tested. There was no growth within
these zones of inhibition. In the peripheral
area there was no increased growth.
Buccal swabs from eight children gave
similar results to those obtained from adult
nasal swabs. Again there were no failures of
inhibition.
Twelve subjects were used in a preliminary
assessment of the local 'kill' from the spray.
Areas of the nose and throat were sprayed
with Locabiotal in the prescribed dose, swabs
taken every hour and compared with the
original pre-treatment swab. The initial
culture volume for each subject was recorded
as 100%. Table 3 shows the results obtained
from non-smokers. The results given are the
average reading of all subjects.
U p to 36 hours showed persistent traces of
inhibition.
In subjects who were smokers the results
from the nose were the same as those found
in non-smokers. The results of throat swab
examination were somewhat different and
are shown in Table 4.
These preliminary results indicate that
there is a powerful bacterial inhibitory effect
of this preparation (Locabiotal) and this
persists for at least 8 hours.
Discussion
F r o m the findings of this study two observa­
tions seem to be worthy of note. Firstly, the
more motile the Gram-negative bacilli appear
on culture, the greater is the effect of
Locabiotal in inhibiting their growth. This
observation should be further investigated.
Secondly, Locabiotal appears to be highly
effective against Haemophilus influenzae and
since this group of organisms has been shown
to be an important infecting agent in chronic
bronchitis Locabiotal might be used prophylactically against this condition.
Conclusion
F r o m the findings of this study it would
appear that Locabiotal is an aerosol of
considerable interest and worthy of further
clinical evaluation particularly in infections
of the nose and throat, and of the chest. As
a first time therapy in 'red throat' it can be
highly recommended.
Table 3
Non-Smokers
Nose
Throat
1
2
3
4
5
6
12
N o growth
N o growth
N o growth
20%
30%
40%
60%
N o growth
N o growth
10%
20%
35%
50%-60%
80%
hour
hours
hours
hours
hours
hours
hours
Table 4
Time
% growth
1
2
3
4
5
6
0
10%
30%
50%
50%
80%
hour
hours
hours
hours
hours
hours
N o demonstrable activity in 24-26 hours.
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