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Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (1996) 37, 253-263
© 1996 The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy

research-article

The effect of antibiotics on bacteria under hyperbaric conditions

J. Hinda and R. W. Attwellb

aUniversity of Maryland, Center of Marine Biotechnology 600 E. Lombard Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, USA bDepartment of Biological Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University Chester Street, Manchester Ml 5GD, UK

Received 21 September 1994; returned 10 March 1995; accepted 19 September 1995

The sensitivity of selected bacteria to a range of antibiotics was tested under hyperbaric conditions used in saturation diving. The effect of hyperbaric helium and oxygen (heliox) on antibiotic stability and on induction of ß-lactamase was also determined. Increased resistance to penicillin (up to 23%) was shown by Staphylococcus aureus and to gentamicin (up to 46%) and rifampicin (up to 18%) by Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium at 36 and 71 bar pressure. Exposure to 71 bar heliox did not affect antibiotic activity but increased the production of ß-lactamase in inducible S. aureus and Bacillus subtilis and production of ß-galactosidase in inducible E. coli. Increased resistance to antibiotics in saturation diving conditions can be attributed in some cases to the influence of hyperbaric pressure on induction mechanisms in bacteria. The experimental system devised for this work is suitable for more detailed examination of the influence of hyperbaric stress on antibiotic resistance and of its effect on induction mechanisms in general.


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