Comparative antimicrobial activity between meropenem and imipenem/cilastatina: does the clinical laboratory need to test both imipenem and meropenem routinely?

Meropenem and imipenem are the most active and potent ß-lactams against gram-negative bacteria and the only carbapenems commercially available in Brazil, USA, and Europe. Meropenem has higher in vitro activity against gram-negative bacteria, while imipenem has slightly higher in vitro activity against gram-positive. The objectives of this study are to compare the in vitro activities of these carbapenems and to evaluate the necessity of susceptibility testing both compounds at the routine of the microbiology laboratory. The broth microdilution results of 2,144 gram-negative bacilli were analyzed. Against Enterobacteriaceae meropenem was at least eight-fold more potent than imipenem. Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa meropenem (MIC50, 1mug/ml) was also more potent than imipenem (MIC50, 2mug/ml), and against Acinetobacter baumannii both carbapenems presented similar in vitro activities (MIC50, 1mug/ml for both). Only 2.7% of the isolates presented discrepant category results between the carbapenems; i.e. susceptible to one and resistant to the other. Forty-six isolates (2.14%) were susceptible to meropenem and resistant to imipenem; while only 12 isolates (0.55%) were susceptible to imipenem and resistant to meropenem. The vast majority of discordant results (91.4%) occur among non-fermentative bacilli (NF-BGN). Five discordant results were detected among 1,350 Enterobacteriaceae evaluated (0.37%); while 53 discrepant results were detected among 794 NF-BGN (6.64%). Isolates showing susceptibility to meropenem and resistance to imipenem account for 80% of the discrepant results. The results of this study indicate that the microbiology laboratory may susceptibility test only one of the carbapenems for Enterobacteriaceae and use the same category result for the other one. It is important that the results for both carbapenems are sent to the physicians in order for them to be able to choose the most appropriated for the case. On the other hand, for NF-BGN the laboratory should susceptibility test both carbapenems.O meropenem e o imipenem representam os ß-lactâmicos com maior espectro e potência antimicrobiana, e são os únicos carbapenêmicos disponíveis para uso clínico no Brasil, nos Estados Unidos e na Europa. O meropenem apresenta atividade in vitro superior contra gram-negativos, enquanto que o imipenem é discretamente mais ativo contra gram-positivos. Os objetivos deste estudo são comparar as atividades in vitro destes dois carbapenêmicos e avaliar a necessidade de o laboratório clínico testá-los em sua rotina. Os resultados da avaliação dos padrões de sensibilidade de 2.144 bacilos gram-negativos pela técnica de microdiluição em caldo foram analisados. Contra enterobactérias, o meropenem apresentou atividade pelo menos oito vezes maior que o imipenem. Contra Pseudomonas aeruginosa, o meropenem (CIM50 de 1mig/ml) também apresentou atividade superior à do imipenem (CIM50 de 2mig/ml), e contra Acinetobacter baumannii, a ação dos dois é equivalente (CIM50 de 1mig/ml para ambos). Somente 2,7% das amostras avaliadas apresentaram resultados discordantes entre os dois carbapenêmicos em termos de categoria de sensibilidade - isto é, foram sensíveis a um e resistentes ao outro. Quarenta e seis amostras (2,14%) foram sensíveis ao meropenem e resistentes ao imipenem, enquanto que somente 12 amostras (0,55%) apresentaram sensibilidade ao imipenem e resistência ao meropenem. A grande maioria dos resultados discordantes (91,4%) ocorreu entre as amostras de bacilos gram-negativos não-fermentadores da glicose (BGN-NF). Entre as 1.350 enterobactérias testadas houve apenas cinco resultados discordantes (0,37%), enquanto que entre os BGN-NF ocorreram 53 (6,67%). Além disso, em cerca de 80%, as amostras foram sensíveis ao meropenem e resistentes ao imipenem. Os resultados deste estudo indicam que o laboratório de microbiologia pode testar apenas um dos carbapenêmicos contra enterobactérias, considerando para o outro o mesmo resultado. É importante que os resultados dos dois carbapenêmicos sejam colocados no relatório, para que o médico possa escolher aquele que achar mais adequado. Por outro lado, para os BGN-NF, o laboratório deve realizar o teste de sensibilidade com os dois carbapenêmicos separadamente.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de MedicinaUNIFESP, EPMSciEL

Antimicrobial susceptibility of bacteria isolated from the lower respiratory tract of inpatients with pneumonia in Brazilian hospitals: results from the SENTRY surveillance program, 1997 and 1998

Background: Nosocomial pneumonia is the most common fatal nosocomial infection with attributable mortality rates ranging from 30 to 60% and a rapid initiation of optimal antimicrobial therapy is important to obtain treatment success. SENTRY is a comprehensive antimicrobial surveillance study involving a great number of medical centers distributed worldwide. Objective: To evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial isolates collected from the lower respiratory tract of inpatients with pneumonia. Material & methods: The authors report the antimicrobial susceptibility of 525 isolates collected in 11 Brazilian hospitals, as part of the SENTRY program. The isolates were tested for susceptibility by broth micro-dilution against a large number of drugs. Results: The five most frequently isolated species were (n/%): Pseudomonas aeruginosa (158/30.1%), Staphylococcus aureus (103/19.6%), Acinetobacter spp. (68/13.0%), Klebsiella spp. (50/9.5%), and Enterobacter spp. (44/8.4%). These five species represented more than 80% of all isolates. P. aeruginosa demonstrated high rates of resistance to most antimicrobial agents tested. The highest susceptibility rates were shown by piperacillin/tazobactam (71.5%) and meropenem (69.0%). Acinetobacter spp. also showed very high rates of resistance. The most active compounds against this species were imipenem and meropenem (80.9% susceptibility) followed by tetracycline (63.2% susceptibility). Cephalosporin susceptibilities among Klebsiella spp were very low and 36.0% of isolates were considered ESBL producers based on increased MICs, > 2 mug/mL) to ceftriaxone or ceftazidime or aztreonam. Ceftriaxone was active against only 56.8% of Enterobacter spp. isolates (MIC50 1 mug/mL), while cefepime was active against 88.6% of these isolates (MIC, ou =2mig/mL para ceftriaxona ou ceftazidima, indicando produção de ESBL, foram encontrados em 36,0% das amostras. Os antimicrobianos mais ativos contra Klebsiella spp. foram os carbapenens (100% de sensibilidade) e as quinolonas (92,0% de sensibilidade). Ceftriaxona foi ativa contra somente 56,8% das amostras de Enterobacter spp. (MIC50, 1mig/mL), enquanto a cefepima foi ativa contra 88,6% destes isolados (MIC50, <= 0,12mig/mL). A resistência à oxacilina foi detectada em 43,7% dos isolados de S. aureus. As drogas mais ativas contra essa espécie foram: vancomicina, teicoplanina, quinupristin-dalfopristin e linezolida. Conclusões: Os resultados do presente estudo mostraram alta prevalência de Acinetobacter spp. e altas taxas de resistência entre bacilos gram-negativos quando comparados com resultados de estudos norte-americanos e europeus.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)Universidade de Iowa Faculdade de Medicina Departmento de PatologiaLaboratório Santa LuziaLaboratório LâminaUNIFESPSciEL

Antimicrobial activity of tigecycline against community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates recovered from North American medical centers

A total of 1989 community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) were susceptibility tested by broth microdilution. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, SCCmec type, and polymerase chain reaction for Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes were also performed. the overall tigecycline susceptibility rate was 98.2%. Glycopeptides, quinupristin/dalfopristin, linezolid, and chloramphenicol were also active against this collection (<= 0.7% resistant). the vast majority (70.8%) of the CA-MRSA was SCCmec type IV, from which 88.4% belonged to the USA300-0114 clone and 94.7% were PVL positive. Tigecycline showed in vitro activity comparable with other highly active parenteral agents and represents an option for treating complicated infections caused by CA-MRSA. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.JMI Labs, N Liberty, IA 52317 USAUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Infect Dis, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilTufts Univ, Sch Med, Boston, MA 02111 USAUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Infect Dis, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Increased antimicrobial susceptibility profiles among polymyxin-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates

JMI Labs, N Liberty, IA 52317 USAUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilTufts Univ, Sch Med, Boston, MA 02111 USAUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc