Effect of 2-chloro-N-(4-fluoro-3-nitrophenyl)acetamide in combination with antibacterial drugs against Klebsiella pneumoniae

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a species of Gram-negative bacteria related to a wide range of infections and high rates of drug resistance. The combined use of antibacterial agents is one of the strategies that has been analyzed in recent years as part of the alternatives in the treatment of drug-resistant infections. Recently, the antibacterial activity of of 2-chloro-N-(4-fluoro-3-nitrophenyl)acetamide has been demonstrated against K. pneumoniae, also indicating that this acetamide did not show significant cytotoxic potential in preliminary tests. Thus, it becomes an interesting substance for future studies that explore its antimicrobial capacity, including investigating its association with antibacterial drugs. Based on this, this research aimed to analyze the effects of the association of 2-chloro-N-(4-fluoro-3-nitrophenyl)acetamide (CFA) with ciprofloxacin, cefepime, ceftazidime, meropenem and imipenem against K. pneumoniae strains. The results showed additivity when the substance was combined with ciprofloxacin and cefepime, indifference when associated with ceftazidime and synergistic effect when combined with meropenem and imipenem. Thus, the acetamide was able to optimize the effects of antibacterial drugs, reducing the concentrations necessary to cause bacterial death. These data indicate a potential future clinical use of these combinations, and further studies are needed to analyze this viability.