The combination of oseltamivir with azithromycin does not show additional benefits over oseltamivir monotherapy in mice infected with influenza A(H1N1)pdm2009 virus.

ABSTRACT

The combination of azithromycin, an immunomodulator, with oseltamivir was compared to oseltamivir monotherapy in a lethal BALB/c model of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 infection. Groups of 14-16 mice received oral oseltamivir (10 mg/kg once daily for 5 days, starting at day 2 post-inoculation) alone or combined to azithromycin (a single 100 mg/kg dose, injected intraperitoneally at day 3 post-inoculation). Based on survival rates, lung viral titers, and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, the combination therapy did not provide obvious additional clinical/virological benefits over oseltamivir monotherapy. Additional studies are still needed to better define the potential role of adjunctive immunomodulatory therapy for severe influenza infections.