Hyperoxia prolongs the postantibiotic effect (PAE) of the aminoglycoside tobramycin in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We tested the hypothesis that the PAE is prolonged because hyperoxia increases free radical flux while tobramycin inhibits the induction of antioxidant defenses. Exposure ofP. aeruginosa to hyperoxia (100%O 02) for 1 h increased superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione levels. In the presence of tobramycin (1 x the MIC), the induction of antioxidant defenses by hyperoxia was nearly abrogated. Neither preexposure ofP. aeruginosa to hyperoxia nor supplementation with the antioxidants copper(II) (diisopropylsalicylate)2 (superoxide dismutase-like), catalase, or dimethyl sulfoxide abolished prolongation of the PAE of tobramycin induced by hyperoxia.We recently showed that hyperoxia acts in synergy with an aminoglycoside antibiotic to prolong the postantibiotic effect (PAE) of tobramycin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (18). The PAE describes the period of bacterial growth suppression that results from a brief exposure to an antimicrobial agent (14). For aminoglycosides, the PAE represents the time required for synthesis of new ribosomes (4).Hyperoxia increases the intracellular flux of 02 and other reactive oxygen species (8). In the study described here, we tested the hypothesis that hyperoxia enhances the PAE of tobramycin against P. aeruginosa by increasing the intracel- MIC of tobramycin for P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 was 0.5 p,g/ml.The antioxidant enzymes and free radical scavengers were used at the highest concentration which did not inhibit bacterial growth, namely, CuDIPS at 1 x 10-4 M, CAT at 4 x 10' M, and DMSO at 0.4 M. The antioxidants were added before exposure to hyperoxia. The PAE was measured as described previously (18).For enymatic and thiol assays, bacteria (final concentration, -10' CFU/ml) were grown for 2 h in a shaking water bath under ambient conditions (21% 02, 37°C, 100 rpm) before a 1-h exposure to hyperoxia and/or tobramycin (lx the MIC). Bacteria were then filtered onto 0.2-,m-pore-size filters, washed, and resuspended in 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0); filters were removed after vortexing. Bacteria were centrifuged at 10,000 x g for 15 min at 4°C. After decanting and resuspending with 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) with 0.1 mM EDTA, bacterial cells were lysed by sonication (model W185 sonifier; Branson, Plainview, N.Y.) at 60 W (45 s, eight times). Membranes were sedimented by centrifugation at 27,500 x g for 30 min.