Metronidazole lacks antibacterial activity in guinea pigs infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Hoff DR, Caraway ML, Brooks EJ, Driver ER, Ryan GJ, Peloquin CA, Orme IM, Basaraba RJ, Lenaerts AJ.
Metronidazole, which is used for the treatment of infections caused by anaerobic organisms, was evaluated in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected guinea pigs. M. tuberculosis can adapt to hypoxia, which is present in the primary lesions of infected guinea pigs. Metronidazole treatment (for 6 weeks at 100 mg/kg of body weight) resulted in no reduction in the bacillary burden and significantly worsened lesion inflammation.