scholarly journals Molecular Relationships and Antimicrobial Susceptibilities of Viridans Group Streptococci Isolated from Blood of Neutropenic Cancer Patients

1999 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 1876-1880 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Wisplinghoff ◽  
R. R. Reinert ◽  
O. Cornely ◽  
H. Seifert

From January 1995 to May 1998, 57 episodes of bacteremia due to viridans group streptococci were identified in 50 febrile neutropenic patients with hematologic malignancies. Four patients experienced two separate episodes of streptococcal bacteremia, and one patient had four separate episodes of streptococcal bacteremia. Strains were identified to species level as Streptococcus mitis (n= 37), Streptococcus oralis (n = 19), andStreptococcus salivarius (n = 1). Epidemiologic relatedness of these strains was studied by using PCR-based fingerprinting with M13 and ERIC-2 primers and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis with restriction enzyme SmaI. All strains that were isolated from different patients exhibited unique fingerprint patterns, thus suggesting that viridans group streptococcal bacteremia usually derives from an endogenous source. Cross-transmission of strains between patients could not be established. Four S. mitis isolates recovered during four separate bacteremic episodes in a single patient had identical fingerprint patterns. Susceptibility testing was carried out by broth microdilution technique according to National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards guidelines. The MICs at which 90% of the isolates are inhibited were (in milligrams per liter) as follows: 0.5 (penicillin), 0.5 (amoxicillin), 0.25 (cefotaxime), 2 (chloramphenicol), 4 (erythromycin), 0.5 (clindamycin), ≥32 (tetracycline), ≥32 (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole), 4 (ciprofloxacin), 0.5 (sparfloxacin), 0.5 (vancomycin), 0.25 (teicoplanin), and 1 (quinupristin-dalfopristin). High-level penicillin resistance (MIC, ≥4 mg/liter) was found in one isolate only, but intermediate penicillin resistance was noted in 11 isolates (19%). Resistance rates to other drugs were as follows: 7% (amoxicillin), 4% (cefotaxime), 4% (chloramphenicol), 32% (erythromycin), 9% (clindamycin), 39% (tetracycline), 68% (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole), 23% (ciprofloxacin), 0% (sparfloxacin), 0% (vancomycin), 0% (teicoplanin), and 0% (quinupristin-dalfopristin).

1996 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 1208-1213 ◽  
Author(s):  
G V Doern ◽  
A Brueggemann ◽  
H P Holley ◽  
A M Rauch

A total of 1,527 clinically significant outpatient isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae were prospectively collected in 30 different U.S. medical centers between November 1994 and April 1995. Overall, 23.6% of strains were not susceptible to penicillin, with 14.1% intermediate and 9.5% high-level resistant. The frequencies of recovery of intermediate and high-level resistant strains varied considerably between different medical centers and in different geographic areas. In general, intermediate and high-level penicillin resistance was most common with isolates of S. pneumoniae recovered from pediatric patients. The in vitro activities of 22 other antimicrobial agents were assessed against this collection of isolates. Ampicillin was consistently 1 twofold dilution less active than penicillin. Amoxicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanate were essentially equivalent to penicillin in activity. The rank order of activity for cephalosporins was cefotaxime = ceftriaxone > or = cefpodoxime > or = cefuroxime > cefprozil > or = cefixime > cefaclor = loracarbef > cefadroxil = cephalexin. The National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards [Performance Standards for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing, Sixth Information Supplement (M100-S6), 1995] has established MIC breakpoints for resistance (i.e., > or = 2 micrograms/ml) with three cephalosporins versus S. pneumoniae, namely, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, and cefuroxime. The overall percentages of strains resistant to these three antimicrobial agents were 3, 5, and 12, respectively. The overall frequency of resistance was 10% with all three macrolides examined in this study, clarithromycin, erythromycin, and azithromycin. The overall percentages of chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole resistance were 4.3, 7.5, and 18, respectively. The resistance percentages among the cephalosporins, macrolides, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were consistently higher among penicillin-intermediate strains than among susceptible isolates and even higher still among organisms expressing high-level penicillin resistance. Multiply resistant strains represented 9.1% of the organisms examined in this study. Finally, rifampin resistance was uncommon (i.e., 0.5%), and vancomycin resistance was not detected. The quinopristin-dalfopristin combination was consistently active at concentrations of 0.25 to 4 micrograms/ml, but rates of resistance could not be determined in the absence of established interpretive criteria for MIC results.


1999 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald E Low ◽  
Joyce de Azavedo ◽  
Canadian Bacterial Surveillance Network ◽  
Ross Davidson

OBJECTIVE: To determine the in vitro activity of cefepime against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacilli and Gram-positive cocci obtained from an ongoing cross-Canada surveillance study.DESIGN: Clinical isolates of aerobic Gram-negative bacilli with inducible and constitutive chromosomally mediated cephalosporinases, viridans group streptococci andStreptococcus pneumoniaewere collected from laboratories serving hospitals, nursing homes and physician offices in the community from across Canada during 1996 and 1997. Laboratories were asked to submit only clinically relevant nonduplicate isolates for susceptibility testing. In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out on all isolates of Gram-negative and viridans group streptococci.S pneumoniaewere characterized as penicillin susceptible, intermediately resistant or highly resistant. Nonsusceptible isolates were defined as being intermediately or highly resistant (minimal inhibitory concentrations [MIC] greater than 0.06 mg/L). Only isolates ofS pneumoniaethat were nonsusceptible to penicillin were selected for further study. MICs were determined using a microbroth dilution technique according to the National Committee of Clinical Laboratory Standards.RESULTS: A total of 727 Gram-negative bacilli samples were collected. No resistance to cefepime was detected withCitrobacter freundii,Serratia marcescens,Morganella morganiiandEnterobacterspecies. Of these strains,Enterobacterspecies andC freundiiwere the most resistant to ceftazidime, cefotaxime and ceftriaxone with MIC90Sof 32 mg/L or greater and resistance rates of 6% or greater. Resistance rates ofPseudomonas aeruginosaandAcinetobacterspecies to cefepime were 4.8% and 3%, respectively. The two organisms had similar rates of resistance to ceftazidime. Less than 3% of the Gram-negative bacilli were resistant to imipenem and meropenem. There were 153 viridans group streptococci, of which 22 (14.4%) were resistant to penicillin. Of 1287S pneumoniaesamples, 193 (15%) were nonsusceptible to penicillin. Cefepime, ceftriaxone and cefotaxime had comparable activity against all isolates of viridans group streptococci andS pneumoniae.CONCLUSIONS: Cefepime demonstrated excellent in vitro activity against Gram-negative bacilli with inducible and constitutive chromosomally mediated cephalosporinases, and had equal or superior activity versus comparator beta-lactams against all isolates of viridans group streptococci andS pneumoniae.


2004 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 391-397
Author(s):  
Veljko Mirovic ◽  
Branka Tomanovic ◽  
Sonja Konstantinovic

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of resistance to antibiotics of the most frequently isolated bacteria from blood cultures of hospitalized patients during the period 1997-2002. The resistance to antibiotics was determined by disk diffusion method according to National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards procedures. The majority of staphylococci isolates were resistant to methicillin, and the proportion of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was stable (76.8-81.6%), during the follow-up period. None of the staphylococci isolates were resistant to vancomycin, but there was a very high incidence of high-level resistance of enterococci to aminoglycosides (47.2-72.2%). In 1998, only one strain among enterococci was resistant to vancomycin (Enterococcus faecium, VanA fenotype). Enterococcus spp isolates expressed variable frequency of resistance to ampicillin (15-40.1%) during the follow-up period. Among Enterobacteriaceae there were no isolates resistant to imipenem, but dramatic increase of the resistance to ceftriaxone was found from 35.9% in 1997 to 95.9% in 2002 (p<0.001). Extended spectrum beta-lactamases production was found in all the species of enterobacteria isolates. Resistance to imipenem was observed in Acinetobacter spp isolates in 2002 for the first time. Pseudomonas spp isolates expressed high and very variable resistance to all antibiotics tested during the follow-up period.


1995 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 157-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew E Simor ◽  
Anita Rachlis ◽  
Lisa Louie ◽  
Janet Goodfellow ◽  
Marie Louie

Objective: To determine the prevalence of resistance ofStreptococcus pneumoniaeto penicillin and other antimicrobial agents in metropolitan Toronto.Design: Consecutive pneumococcal isolates from different patients were obtained from two private community-based laboratories and from patients assessed in the emergency department of a tertiary-care teaching hospital in Toronto, Ontario between June and December 1993, and between March and October 1994. In vitro susceptibility testing was done by broth microdilution in accordance with National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards guidelines.Results: Twenty (7.3±3.1%) of 274 pneumococcal isolates were resistant to penicillin; six (30%) isolates had high-level resistance (minimal inhibitory concentration [mic] 2.0 μg/mL or greater); and 14 isolates had intermediate resistance (mic0.1 to 1.0 μg/mL). Penicillin-resistant strains were also frequently resistant to tetracycline (55%), cotrimoxazole (50%), erythromycin (40%) and cefuroxime (35%). Resistant strains comprised several serotypes: 19F (six isolates), 9V (three), 23F (three), and one each of 6A, 6B, 14, and 19A; four isolates were nontypeable.Conclusions: There has been a recent emergence of penicillin-resistantS pneumoniaein southern Ontario. National and regional surveillance is warranted to determine the extent of the problem elsewhere in Canada.


2001 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 627-629 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Benbachir ◽  
Saida Benredjeb ◽  
Cheick Saadbouh Boye ◽  
Mireille Dosso ◽  
Houria Belabbes ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Worldwide spread of antibiotic resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major problem. However, data from West and North African countries are scarce. To study the level of resistance and compare the situations in different cities, a prospective study was conducted in Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Casablanca (Morocco), Dakar (Senegal), and Tunis (Tunisia), from 1996 to 1997. The resistances to eight antibiotics of 375 isolates were studied by E test, and the results were interpreted using the breakpoints recommended by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. Overall, 30.4% of the isolates were nonsusceptible to penicillin G (25.6% were intermediate and 4.8% were resistant). Amoxicillin (96.3% were susceptible) and parenteral third-generation cephalosporins (92.7%) were highly active. Resistance to chloramphenicol was detected in 8.6% of the isolates. High levels of resistance were noted for erythromycin (28%), tetracycline (38.3%), and cotrimoxazole (36.4%). Resistance to rifampin was rare (2.1%). There were significant differences in resistance rates between individual countries. Multiple resistance was more frequent in penicillin-nonsusceptible isolates than in penicillin-susceptible isolates. Recommendations for treatment could be generated from these results in each participating country.


1999 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 1881-1884 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donna M. Hacek ◽  
Dana C. Dressel ◽  
Lance R. Peterson

Bactericidal testing historically has exhibited variable reproducibility, even when prior standardized methods were employed. Several modifications to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) broth macrodilution method are proposed to improve reproducibility. Recommended changes from the approved NCCLS guidelines (M21-A and M26-A) include omitting serum supplementation of Mueller-Hinton broth, incubating tubes at 35°C for 24 h with no agitation until they are sampled, running all tests in duplicate with six dilutions instead of nine, reincubating the test for an additional 24 h to resolve discrepant bactericidal activity test results, using a single 0.1-ml sample from each clear tube for subculture, and adopting an alternate method for calculating endpoint determination. In order to test these recommendations in a clinical laboratory setting, we used the modified methodology on 224 separate tests for bactericidal activity. There were 102 serum bactericidal titer (SBT) and 122 minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) assays performed. By defining reproducibility as agreement between duplicate tests ± 1 dilution, we found 207 of 224 tests (92%) were reproducible at the 24-h subculture point (94% for the SBT assay and 91% for the MBC assay). When the 17 assays with discrepant results were incubated an additional 24 h for a second subculture, only 1 of 224 tests (0.4%) remained discrepant. The method used is practical for a clinical laboratory that chooses to perform bactericidal activity testing and assures a high level of reproducibility between duplicate assays. The total cost of a test was approximately $25.00.


2002 ◽  
Vol 59 (5) ◽  
pp. 499-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veljko Mirovic

The aim of this study was to determine the resistance of Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) and Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) to penicillin, ampicillin, vancomycin, teicoplanin, gentamicin (high level), streptomycin (high level), oxytetracycline, chloramphenicol, rifampin, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, and nitrofurantoin from clinical specimens during 1999. The resistance of enterococci to antibiotics was determined by disk diffusion and dilution methods according to the American National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards guidelines. The production of ?-lactamase was determined by nitrocefin disks. In E. faecalis and E. faecium isolates (n=111 and n=48) the frequency of the resistance to both penicillins was 0.9% and 89.6%, respectively. All enterococci isolates were ?-lactamase negative. Only one strain of E. faecium was vancomycin resistant (Van A fenotype). Among E. faecalis isolates (n=109) high level gentamicin resistance (HLGR), high level streptomycin resistance (HLSR), and resistance to both agents was 52.3%, 50.4%, and 43.7%, respectively. Among E. faecium isolates (n=48) HLGR, HLSR, and to both agents were 68.7%, 75%, and 62.5% respectively. The majority of E. faecium isolates were resistant to both penicillin and ampicillin. E. faecalis remained susceptible to penicillins. Moreover, there was a very high incidence of enterococci resistant to high level aminoglycosides.


1999 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 1463-1464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daryl J. Hoban ◽  
George G. Zhanel ◽  
James A. Karlowsky

ABSTRACT Fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans and intrinsically fluconazole-resistant Candida species have been reported as bloodstream isolates. However, an association between the isolation of fluconazole-resistant Candida from the bloodstream and patient risk factors for fungemia has not been established. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of fluconazole resistance in bloodstream isolates ofCandida species and Cryptococcus neoformanscollected from patients with neutropenia, one of the most important risk factors for fungemia. MICs of voriconazole, fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, amphotericin B, and flucytosine were determined by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards M27-A method (1997). Voriconazole, on a per-weight basis, was the most active azole tested. Fluconazole resistance (MIC ≥ 64 μg/ml) was not identified in any of the C. albicans(n = 513), Candida parapsilosis(n = 78), Candida tropicalis(n = 62), or C. neoformans(n = 38) isolates tested.


1999 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross J Davidson ◽  
Canadian Bacterial Surveillance Network ◽  
Donald E Low

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in clinical isolates ofStreptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzaeandMoraxella catarrhalisfrom medical centres across Canada.METHODS: Fifty laboratories from across Canada were asked to collect up to 25 consecutive clinical isolates ofS pneumoniae,H influenzaeandM catarrhalisat some time between September 1994 and May 1995, and then again between September and December of 1996. A total of 2364S pneumoniae, 575H influenzaeand 200M catarrhalissamples were collected.H influenzaeandM catarrhalisisolates were tested for the production of beta-lactamase.S pneumoniaeisolates were characterized as penicillin susceptible, intermediately resistant or high level penicillin-resistant. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using a microbroth dilution technique described by the National Committee of Clinical Laboratory Standards.RESULTS: Between the two collection periods, there was a significant increase in highly penicillin-resistantS pneumoniaefrom 2.1% to 4.4% (P<0.05) and an increase in intermediately penicillin-resistant strains from 6.4% to 8.9% (P<0.05). A significant increase in high level penicillin-resistantS pneumoniaewas noted among paediatric isolates. No significant difference in the susceptibilities of comparator agents was detected. A significant increase in the number of beta-lactamase producingH influenzae, 34% to 43% (P<0.05) was observed. Ninety-five per cent ofM catarrhalisisolates were beta-lactamase producers in both time periods.CONCLUSIONS: During the course of this study, the incidence of penicillin resistance inS pneumoniaedoubled. As a result of this increase, infections due to this organism in sites where poor penetration of beta-lactam antibiotics occur may become increasingly difficult to manage.


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