In vitro activities of MK-0826 and 16 other antimicrobials against Bacteroides fragilis group strains.

The activity of MK-0826, a new carbapenem, against 309 Bacteroides fragilis group strains was investigated and compared with that of 11 other beta-lactam and 5 non-beta-lactam agents. MK-0826 showed excellent activity (MICs ranged from < or =0.06 to 4 microg/ml). The new carbapenem may be useful in the treatment of mixed anaerobic infections involving B. fragilis group strains.

Comparative in vitro activities of linezolid, quinupristin-dalfopristin, moxifloxacin, and trovafloxacin against erythromycin-susceptible and -resistant streptococci.

The in vitro activities of the new agents linezolid, quinupristin-dalfopristin, moxifloxacin, and trovafloxacin were determined and compared with those of penicillin, clindamycin, and four macrolides against 53 erythromycin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, 117 S. pyogenes (64 erythromycin-susceptible and 53 -resistant), and 101 S. agalactiae (53 erythromycin-susceptible and 48 -resistant) isolates. Differentiation of macrolide resistance phenotypes was performed by the double-disk method. The genetic basis for macrolide resistance in 52 strains was also determined. The M phenotype was found in 84.9, 6.3, and 1.9% of S. pyogenes, S. agalactiae, and S. pneumoniae isolates, respectively. These strains were susceptible to miocamycin and clindamycin. Strains with the inducible phenotype accounted for 27.1% of S. agalactiae isolates and 9.4% each of S. pyogenes and S. pneumoniae isolates. All erythromycin-resistant isolates were also resistant to the 14- and 15-membered macrolides tested. Strains with all three phenotypes were susceptible to

[Vancomycin-resistant enterococci: in vitro activity of quinupristin / dalfoprostin (RP 59500)]. / Enterococos resistentes a vancomicina: actividad in vitro de quinupristina/dalfopristina (RP 59500).

BACKGROUND: The recent emergence of glycopeptide-resistant enterococci limits the treatment of enterococcal infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro activity of a new streptogramin, quinupristin/dalfopristin, against 30 clinical isolates of vancomycin-resistant enterococci and compared with those of other 15 antimicrobials. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Enterococci were identified by using Rapid ID 32 Strep system. Genotyping of the isolates was performed by PCR. The MICs of quinupristin/dalfopristin were determined by the agar dilution technique recommended by the NCCLS. Susceptibilities to the rest of antibiotics tested (teicoplanin, ampicillin, penicillin, imipenem, doxycicline, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, streptomycin, rifampin, levofloxacin, fleroxacin, trovafloxacin, sparfloxacin, pefloxacin and clinafloxacin) were determined by using the E test. beta-lactamase production was examined with nitrocefin disks. RESULTS: Quinupristin/dalfopristin has demonstrated excellent activity against Enterococcus faecium (MIC90' 2 micrograms/ml). Enterococcus faecalis was considerably less susceptible than E. faecium, at concentration of 4 micrograms/ml inhibited only 31% of tested strains. For doxycicline 77% of strains were susceptible. Only five isolates were susceptible to clinafloxacin; the other quinolones tested displayed poor activity. Resistance to chloramphenicol was detected in 47% of isolates. None of the isolates produced beta-lactamase. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that vancomycin-resistant enterococci are often concomitantly resistant to multiple antibiotics. Quinupristin/dalfopristin was the most active agent tested against E. faecium strains. On the basis of these results quinupristin/dalfopristin could be a therapeutic option for the treatment of vancomycin-resistant E. faecium infections.

Activities of new antimicrobial agents (trovafloxacin, moxifloxacin, sanfetrinem, and quinupristin-dalfopristin) against Bacteroides fragilis group: comparison with the activities of 14 other agents.

The antimicrobial activities of trovafloxacin, moxifloxacin, sanfetrinem, quinupristin-dalfopristin, and 14 other antimicrobial agents against 218 Bacteroides fragilis group strains were determined. A group of 10 imipenem-resistant strains were also tested. Imipenem, meropenem, and sanfetrinem had the lowest MICs of all of the beta-lactams. Quinupristin-dalfopristin inhibited all of the strains at 2 microg/ml. Overall, the MICs of trovafloxacin and moxifloxacin for 90% of the strains tested were 1 and 2 microg/ml, respectively.

In-vitro susceptibilities of species of the Bacteroides fragilis group to newer beta-lactam agents.

The in-vitro activities of imipenem and four beta-lactam-beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations were tested against 816 strains of the Bacteroides fragilis group, and compared with other anti-anaerobic agents. None of the strains was resistant to metronidazole, and only one was resistant to chloramphenicol. Mezlocillin and piperacillin were moderately active, while clindamycin was the least active. Rates of resistance varied between various species. The new beta-lactam agents tested showed excellent activity; piperacillin-tazobactam and imipenem were the most active. The emergence of strains that are resistant to these agents, observed in this study, suggests there is a need to perform periodic antimicrobial susceptibility tests.

Incidence of erythromycin resistance in Streptococcus pyogenes: a 10-year study.

We studied the evolution of susceptibility of Streptococcus pyogenes isolated in our hospital from 1987 to 1996. Susceptibility to penicillin, ampicillin, cefotaxime, cefuroxime, imipenem, erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline, vancomycin, ciprofloxacin, rifampin, and chloramphenicol was determined by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards broth microdilution method. Differentiation of phenotypes of erythromycin-resistant strains was performed using the double-disc method. All isolates remained very susceptible in vitro to penicillin and all of the other beta-lactam agents tested. Between 1987 and 1995 the incidence of erythromycin resistant strains remained below 5%; the difference in the resistance rate between 1995 (2.6%) and 1996 (17.1%) was statistically significant. The macrolide resistance M phenotype was the most frequent. The isolation rates of tetracycline-resistant strains increased from 2.2% in 1987 to 11.2% in 1988. The marked increase in the incidence of erythromycin resistance observed in our area warrants periodic surveillance of antibiotic susceptibility of S. pyogenes isolates and emphasizes the need to control outpatient antibiotics. The preponderance of the M phenotype may have implications in the choice of antibiotic.