Minocycline Has No Clear Role in the Treatment of Mycobacterium abscessus Disease

Abstract

Mycobacterium abscessus causes a difficult-to-treat pulmonary disease (MAb-PD). After initial intravenous treatment, minocycline is recommended in the oral continuation phase of treatment. We determined the MICs, synergy, and time-kill kinetics of minocycline against M. abscessus With MICs of 8 to 512 mg/liter, rapid emergence of tolerance in time-kill assays, and no synergy with other drugs used to treat MAb-PD, minocycline appears ineffective against M. abscessus These in vitro data question its role as a MAb-PD treatment modality.