2.2 Characteristics of animal cohorts
In keeping with the 3Rs principle to reduce the number of animals used in research, this study carried forward animal data from saline control and vancomycin only treated rats treated in the exact manner as described herein. Specifically, the saline group comprised rats with identical experimental protocols, i.e. n=8 rats from a study published in abstract form (”ACCP Abstract Booklet,” 2021) and n=3 new animals, n=11 total. Similarly, the vancomycin group included n=6 rats from the same study published in abstract form (”ACCP Abstract Booklet,” 2021) and n=6 new animals (total n=12). The vancomycin+flucloxacillin group started out with the minimum group size n=6. Due to the severe nephrotoxicity, two rats had to be euthanized on day 3 prior to dosing (i.e, they received two doses of the intervention). Hence, an additional n=4 rats were included to account for early termination due to nephrotoxicity. All animals provided data and were included in the study (total n=10). Flucloxacillin and imipenem-cilastatin groups were new and have the minimum sample size of n=6 per group.