Evaluation of the Susceptibility profiles, genetic similarity and presence of qnr gene in Escherichia coli resistant to ciprofloxacin isolated in Brazilian hospitals

Increasing quinolone resistance has been reported worldwide, mainly among clinical isolates of Escherichia coli. The objectives of this study were to determine the susceptibility profile, the genetic relatedness, and the prevalence of the qnr gene among ciprofloxacin-resistant Escherichia coli isolated from distinct Brazilian hospitals. A total of 144 ciprofloxacin-resistant Escherichia coli were isolated from 17 Brazilian hospitals between January/2002 and June/2003. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by microdilution according to NCCLS. The presence of the qnr gene was initially screened by colony blotting, and then confirmed by PCR followed by DNA sequencing. Ninety-five urinary ciprofloxacin-resistant Escherichia coli were further selected for molecular typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Imipenem and meropenem showed the highest susceptibility rates (100.0 percent for both compounds) followed by amikacin (91.0 percent) and piperacillin/tazobactan (84.8 percent). A single ciprofloxacin-resistant Escherichia coli isolate was positive for qnr among the 144 ciprofloxacin-resistant Escherichia coli. Forty-six PFGE patterns were observed among the 95 ciprofloxacin-resistant Escherichia coli type. This study shows that therapeutic options are limited for treatment of ciprofloxacin-resistant Escherichia coli due to the presence of additional mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance, such as ESBL production. The qnr gene was uncommon among ciprofloxacin-resistant Escherichia coli clinical isolates, but its identification might indicate the emergence of this mechanism of quinolone resistance in Brazil. The great genomic variability found among the ciprofloxacin-resistant Escherichia coli highlights the importance of the appropriate use of quinolone to restrict the selection of resistant isolates.

Increased resistance to first-line agents among bacterial pathogens isolated from urinary tract infections in Latin America: time for local guidelines?

Emerging resistance phenotypes and antimicrobial resistance rates among pathogens recovered from community-acquired urinary tract infections (CA-UTI) is an increasing problem in specific regions, limiting therapeutic options. As part of the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program, a total of 611 isolates were collected in 2003 from patients with CA-UTI presenting at Latin American medical centers. Each strain was tested in a central laboratory using Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) broth microdilution methods with appropriate controls. Escherichia coli was the leading pathogen (66 percent), followed by Klebsiella spp. (7 percent), Proteus mirabilis (6.4 percent), Enterococcus spp. (5.6 percent), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4.6 percent). Surprisingly high resistance rates were recorded for E. coli against first-line orally administered agents for CA-UTI, such as ampicillin (53.6 percent), TMP/SMX (40.4 percent), ciprofloxacin (21.6 percent), and gatifloxacin (17.1 percent). Decreased susceptibility rates to TMP/SMX and ciprofloxacin were also documented for Klebsiella spp. (79.1 and 81.4 percent, respectively), and P. mirabilis (71.8 and 84.6 percent, respectively). For Enterococcus spp., susceptibility rates to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, and vancomycin were 88.2, 85.3, 55.9, and 97.1 percent, respectively. High-level resistance to gentamicin was detected in 24 percent of Enterococcus spp. Bacteria isolated from patients with CA-UTI in Latin America showed limited susceptibility to orally administered antimicrobials, especially for TMP/SMX and fluoroquinolones. Our results highlight the need for developing specific CA-UTI guidelines in geographic regions where elevated resistance to new and old compounds may influence prescribing decisions.

In vitro activity of tigecycline, a new glycylcycline, tested against 1,326 clinical bacterial strains isolated from Latin America

The in vitro activity of tigecycline (former GAR-936), a new semisynthetic tetracycline, was evaluated in comparison with tetracycline and other antimicrobial agents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 1,326 contemporary clinical isolates collected from the Latin American region were collected in 2000-2002 period and tested with microdilution broth according to the CLSI guidelines. The bacterial pathogens evaluated included Staphylococcus aureus (505), Streptococcus pneumoniae (269), coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS; 227), Haemophilus influenzae (129), Enterococcus spp. (80), Moraxella catarrhalis (54), beta-haemolytic streptococci (28), viridans group streptococci (26), and Neisseria meningitidis (8) RESULTS:Tigecycline demonstrated excellent activity against all Gram-positive cocci, with 90 percent of penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae strains being inhibited at 0.12 æg/mL, while the same isolates had an MIC90 of > 16 æg/mL for tetracycline. All Enterococcus spp. were inhibited at 0.25 æg/mL of tigecycline. Tigecycline (MIC50, 0.25 æg/mL) was eight-fold more potent than minocycline (MIC50, 2 æg/mL) against oxacillin-resistant S. aureus (ORSA); all ORSA were inhibited at < 2 æg/mL of tigecycline. Tigecycline demonstrated excellent activity (MIC50, 0.5 æg/mL) against CoNS with reduced susceptibility to teicoplanin (MIC, 16 æg/mL). Tigecycline also showed high potency against respiratory pathogens such as M. catarrhalis (MIC50, 0.12 æg/mL) and H. influenzae (MIC50, 0.5 æg/mL). No tigecycline resistant isolates were detected when the proposed susceptible breakpoints (< 4 æg/mL) was applied. CONCLUSIONS: This results indicate that tigecycline has potent in vitro activity against clinically important pathogenic bacteria, including Gram-positive isolates resistant to both tetracycline and minocycline.