List of antibiotics reported to be effective in the treatment of Whipple's disease
| Antibiotic | Ability to penetrate blood–brain barrier | Intracellular penetration | Bactericidal/ static activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bacteriocidal/static activity refers to in vitro activity of each agent against most conventional pathogens that can be cultured in the laboratory. | |||
| Cephalosporins | |||
| Ceftriaxone | Yes, if meninges are inflamed | Poor | Bactericidal |
| Cefixime | |||
| Chloramphenicol | Excellent, even with uninflamed meninges | Good | Bacteriostatic |
| Cotrimoxazole | Good, even with uninflamed meninges | Yes | Bacteriostatic |
| Macrolides | |||
| Azithromycin | Limited | Excellent | Bacteriostatic |
| Clarithromycin | Limited | Good | Bacteriostatic |
| Erythromycin | Penetration limited even with inflamed meninges | Limited | Bacteriostatic |
| Penicillin | Yes, if meninges are inflamed | Poor | Bactericidal |
| Streptomycin | Poor | Poor | Bactericidal |
| Tetracycline | Poor | Good | Bacteriostatic |