Drug-susceptibility Patterns of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa: Possible Guiding Design of Retreatment Regimen.

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has been a cause of concern in both developed and developing countries. The prevalence of drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolates (n=692) from Mpumalanga province was assessed. In total, 692 (64%) MTB strains from cases with pulmonary TB were tested for susceptibility against rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutol, and streptomycin using the MGIT 960 instrument. Two hundred and nine (30.2%) strains were resistant to one or more drugs. Resistance to one drug ranged from 1.4% for ethambutol to 17.7% for rifampicin. The prevalence of MDR-TB ranged from 6.7% for three drugs to 34% for four drugs, with significant predictors being patients’ age-groups of 25-54 years (p=0.0012) and >55 years (p=0.007). The result showed a high level (58.4%) of MDR-TB from cases in Mpumalanga province. To achieve a higher cure rate in this province, drug-susceptibility tests must be done for every case.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of Gonococcal Isolates in Pretoria; South Africa; over a 20-Year Period (1984-2004)

This paper reviews the susceptibility profiles of Neisseria gonorrhoeae over a 20-year period in the Pretoria region. Endourethral specimens were collected from adult men with symptoms of urethritis attending primary health care clinics and private medical practitioners. These swabs were plated on enriched media for isolation of N. gonorrhoeae. Antimicrobial susceptibility of the organisms was performed using the disc diffusion and agar dilution methods. Plasmid analyses were performed on beta-lactamase-producing isolates. Penicillase-producing N. gonorrhoeae strains increased from 4to 16; whilst chromosomally mediated penicillin-resistant strains increased dramatically from 0to 16from 1984 to 2004. There was an equal distribution of the 3.2 MDa African and 4.4 MDa Asian plasmids. High-level tetracycline-resistant strains (36) were detected for the first time in 2004. Ciprofloxacin resistance emerged at 7in the same year. Gonococcal isolates remained susceptible to cefoxitin; ceftriaxone; cefpodoxime; and spectinomycin. However; the minimum inhibitory concentration values for spectinomycin were very close to the breakpoint. We have shown a continuing increase in resistance to penicillin (plasmid and chromosomal); the emergence of high-level tetracycline resistance and an emergence of resistance to ciprofloxacin. Susceptibility testing is essential for successful therapeutic outcomes and needs to be performed in an ongoing basis

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of Gonococcal Isolates in Pretoria; South Africa; Over a 20-Year Period (1984-2004)

Abstract:This paper reviews the susceptibility profiles of Neisseria gonorrhoeae over a 20-year period in the Pretoria region. Endourethral specimens were collected from adult men with symptoms of urethritis attending primary health care clinics and private medical practitioners. These swabs were plated on enriched media for isolation of N. gonorrhoeae. Antimicrobial susceptibility of the organisms was performed using the disc diffusion and agar dilution methods. Plasmid analyses were performed on beta-lactamase-producing isolates. Penicillase-producing N. gonorrhoeae strains increased from 4 to 16; whilst chromosomally mediated penicillin-resistant strains increased dramatically from 0 to 16 from 1984 to 2004. There was an equal distribution of the 3.2 MDa African and 4.4 MDa Asian plasmids. High-level tetracycline-resistant strains (36) were detected for the first time in 2004. Ciprofloxacin resistance emerged at 7 in the same year. Gonococcal isolates remained susceptible to cefoxitin; ceftriaxone; cefpodoxime; and spectinomycin. However; the minimum inhibitory concentration values for spectinomycin were very close to the breakpoint. We have shown a continuing increase in resistance to penicillin (plasmid and chromosomal); the emergence of high-level tetracycline resistance and an emergence of resistance to ciprofloxacin. Susceptibility testing is essential for successful therapeutic outcomes and needs to be performed in an ongoing basis

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of Selected Invasive Pathogens from Public Sector Hospitals in South Africa; 2007

Retrospective antibiotic surveillance data of selected invasive pathogens isolated from blood and cerebrospinal fluid at public sector hospitals in South Africa in 2007 are presented. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were determined according to the 2007 Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute criteria. Klebsiella pneumoniae remains a highly resistant pathogen; with approximately half of all strains producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases. All laboratories reported considerable resistance among Acinetobacter spp. Approximately 50-60of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from blood were resistant to cloxacillin. Among Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from blood and cerebrospinal intermediate resistance to penicillin. Resistance to ceftriaxone in S. pneumoniae was rare

In Vitro Activity of Medicinal Plants of the Venda region; South Africa; against Trichomonas vaginalis

Trichomonas vaginalis is an important and common cause of urogenital infections in both developed and in developing countries. In view of the high prevalence; increase in resistance to drug therapy and associated risk of acquisition and transmission of HIV; we screened the aqueous extracts of 29 plants. These plants are used to treat venereal diseases and infections in the Venda region. Extracts of four plants showed trichomonicidal activity: Securidaca longepedunculata Fresen. (Polygalaceae; 0.10 mg/ml); Solanum aculeastrum Dun. (Solanaceae; 1.06 mg/ml); Piper capense L.f. (Piperaceae; 11.19 mg/ml) and Cassine transvaalensis (Burtt. Davy) Codd (Celastraceae; 9.69 mg/ml). Further investigations are required to determine whether these plants possess the potential to be developed as new drugs for the treatment of trichomoniasis