Trends in Antibiotic Consumption and Resistance in France Over 20 Years: Large and Continuous Efforts but Contrasting Results.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious threat to humanity. This paper describes the French efforts made since 2001 and presents data on antimicrobial consumption (AC) and AMR. METHODS: We gathered all data on AC and AMR recorded since 2001 from different national agencies, transferred on a regular basis to standardized European data on AC and resistance in both humans and animals. RESULTS: After a large information campaign implemented in France from 2001 to 2005 in humans, AC in the community decreased significantly (18% to 34% according to the calculation method used). It remained at the same level from 2005 to 2010 and increased again from 2010 to 2018 (8%). Contrasting results were observed for AMR. The resistance of Staphylococcus aureus decreased significantly. For gram-negative bacilli, the results were variable according to the microorganism. The resistance of Enterobacteriaceae to third-generation cephalosporins increased, remaining moderate for Escherichia coli (12% in 2017) but reaching 35% in the same year for Klebsiella pneumoniae. Resistance to carbapenems in those 2 microorganisms remained below 1%. Both global AC and resistance to most antibiotics decreased significantly in animals. CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotic consumption decreased significantly in France after a large public campaign from 2001 to 2005, but this positive effect was temporary. The effect on AMR varied according to the specific microorganism: The effect was very impressive for gram-positive cocci, variable for gram-negative bacilli, and moderate for E. coli, but that for K. pneumoniae was of concern. The consumption of and resistance to antibiotics decreased significantly in animals.

Cholera: assessing the risk to travellers and identifying methods of protection.

This review is based on the findings of a consultation meeting involving consultants in travel medicine and focusing on the risks of cholera to the traveller. Cholera is a severe diarrhoeal disease transmitted via the faeco-oral route and commonly associated with poor sanitation. Between the years of 1995 and 2001, the WHO reported 1829 cases of cholera in developed countries, the majority of which were imported. However, it is believed that this figure reflects less than 10% of the true incidence of cholera due to milder cases being unrecognised, as well as significant underreporting. Travellers to epidemic countries may be at increased risk of contracting cholera if they ingest contaminated food or water. It has been estimated that there are 0.2 cases of cholera per 100,000 European and North American travellers, though there is some evidence that this rate is higher. Oral vaccines are a necessary and welcome advance as, in addition to preventing illness, they can minimise the possibility of transmission of cholera to disease-free regions. The morbidity from cholera can range from asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic infection to disruption of holiday and business plans, or even severe toxicity and dehydration. If untreated, severe illnesses can be fatal, although fatalities have not been reported among travellers for many years.

Resistance mechanisms.

During the past decade, there has been extensive investigation of bacterial resistance mechanisms. The interplay of genetic and antibiotic factors on antibiotic resistance are multiple and complex. Antibiotic resistance is the clinical expression of these factors. This article reviews the most studied and understood mechanisms of resistance in bacterial species in which resistance problems have clinical significance. Besides plasmid mediated resistance some resistance problems among respiratory pathogens are clonal resistance. The precise cause of this actual genetic event causing bacterial mutation recombination and selection is not always clear. Although resistance mechanisms may be identical within an antibiotic class, expression of resistance often varies among antibiotics of the same class.

Endocarditis Caused by Multiply Resistant Bacteroides fragilis: Case Report and Review.

A 78-year-old woman developed fatal endocarditis of her prosthetic aortic valve, caused by Bacteroides fragilis fragilis, and associated with ovarian carcinoma. The strain showed multiple antibiotic resistance, including resistance to beta-lactam agents and combinations with beta-lactamase inhibitors. Seventeen previously described cases of endocarditis caused by Bacteroides spp. have been found in the literature. The mean age of the 18 patients was 50.3 years, the gastro-intestinal tract was the most common site of associated disease, embolism occured in ten cases and eight patients died. Previous isolates showed the antibiotic susceptibility customarily associated with the B. fragilis group.