1 research outputs found
Antimicrobial resistance in invasive strains of Escherichia coli from southern and eastern Mediterranean laboratories
From January 2003 to December 2005, 5091 susceptibility test results from invasive isolates of Escherichia
coli, collected from blood cultures and cerebrospinal fluid routinely processed within 58 participating
laboratories, were investigated. These laboratories in turn serviced 64 hospitals in Algeria, Cyprus,
Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey. The median proportion of resistance to
third-generation cephalosporins for the duration of the project was 18.9% (interquartile range (IQR):
12.5–30.8%), and for fluoroquinolones 21.0% (IQR: 7.7–32.6%). A substantial proportion of strains
reported by laboratories in countries east of the Mediterranean exhibited evidence of multiresistance, the
highest proportion being from Egypt (31%). There is clearly a need for further investigation of potential
causes of the significant resistance identified, as well as for strengthening of national and international
surveillance initiatives within this region.‘peer-reviewe