In this study, the cooperative antibacterial efficiency of CdTe quantum dots (QDs) and rocephin against Escherichia coli (E. coli) was investigated. Colony-forming capability assay and diameter of inhibition zone (DIZ) measurement showed the antibiotic action of CdTe QDs-rocephin complex was better than the superposition of pure CdTe QDs and rocephin. The fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) indicated that CdTe QDs-rocephin complex could achieve great cooperative antimicrobial effects. The infrared ray (IR) spectrum, photoluminescence (PL) spectrophotometry, and detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS) indicated that CdTe QDs and rocephin formed a stable antimicrobial group through electrostatic attraction and hydrogen bonds and then killed the E. coli together. Meanwhile, the fluorescence intensity of CdTe QDs and the optical density (OD) value of E. coli showed a good linear relationship. Thus, dynamic monitoring to total bacterial concentration in the antibacterial process was realized by the CdTe QDs. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.