TREATMENT OF CHRONIC BACTERIAL INFECTION AND RELATED PATHOLOGIES

摘要

The co-administration of antibiotics and calcium channel blockers in appropriate dose can produce a synergistic antimicrobial effect due to the ability of the calcium channel blocker to convert cryptic forms of chronic bacterial infections to a non-cryptic form. In particular, the effectiveness of L-type calcium channel blockers has been demonstrated with respect to converting chronic bacterial infections to non-cryptic forms. However, decrease or increase of intracellular calcium below or above certain levels results in a decrease in NO production. Since NO can produce desirable effects including, for example, desirable vascular changes and antimicrobial effects, it can be advantageous to control administration of calcium channel blockers to transform cryptic bacterial infections to non-cryptic forms while providing for desirable levels of NO production.