Synergistic Interactions of Indole-2-Carboxamides and β-Lactam Antibiotics against Mycobacterium abscessus

Abstract

New drugs or therapeutic combinations are urgently needed against <i>Mycobacterium abscessus</i> Previously, we demonstrated the potent activity of indole-2-carboxamides 6 and 12 against <i>M. abscessus</i> We show here that these compounds act synergistically with imipenem and cefoxitin <i>in vitro</i> and increase the bactericidal activity of the β-lactams against <i>M. abscessus</i> In addition, compound 12 also displays synergism with imipenem and cefoxitin within infected macrophages. The clinical potential of these new drug combinations requires further evaluation.