Antiinfective compounds and method of use

Compound and method which inhibits the growth of mycobacteria and a method of treating humans or animals with the compound. The present invention also includes a composition useful for treating bacterial infections comprising a mixture of a nonionic block copolymer and a conventional antibiotic. Several conventional antibiotics that can be used with the nonionic copolymer include, but are not limited to, refampin, isoniazid, ethambutol, gentamicin, tetracycline, and erythromycin. The present invention also includes a method for treating a viral infection in a human or animal including infections caused by the HLTV-III virus or virus strains related to the HLTV-III virus. The present invention comprises a surface active copolymer, preferably an ethylene oxide-propylene oxide condensation product with the following general formula: HO(C2H4O)b(C3H6O)a(C2H4O)bH wherein a is an integer such that the hydrophobe represented by (C3H6O) has a molecular weight of about 1200 to 4000, preferably about 1750 to 3500, and b is an integer such that the hydrophile portion represented by (C2H4O) constitutes approximately 10 % to 50 % by weight of the compound.