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Macrolide resistance and genotypic characterization of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Asian countries: a study of the Asian Network for Surveillance of Resistant Pathogens (ANSORP).

OBJECTIVES: To characterize mechanisms of macrolide resistance among Streptococcus pneumoniae from 10 Asian countries during 1998-2001. METHODS: Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of the isolates and their resistance mechanisms. RESULTS: Of 555 isolates studied, 216 (38.9%) were susceptible, 10 (1.8%) were intermediate and 329 (59.3%) were resistant to erythromycin. Vietnam had the highest prevalence of erythromycin resistance (88.3%), followed by Taiwan (87.2%), Korea (85.1%), Hong Kong (76.5%) and China (75.6%). Ribosomal methylation encoded by erm(B) was the most common mechanism of erythromycin resistance in China, Taiwan, Sri Lanka and Korea. In Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, efflux encoded by mef(A) was the more common in erythromycin-resistant isolates. In most Asian countries except Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore, erm(B) was found in >50% of pneumococcal isolates either alone or in combination with mef(A). The level of erythromycin resistance among pneumococcal isolates in most Asian countries except Thailand and India was very high with MIC(90)s of >128 mg/L. Molecular epidemiological studies suggest the horizontal transfer of the erm(B) gene and clonal dissemination of resistant strains in the Asian region. CONCLUSION: Data confirm that macrolide resistance in pneumococci is a serious problem in many Asian countries.

Alleles↗

Prospective surveillance for atypical pathogens in children with community-acquired pneumonia in Japan.

A total of 141 children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) were studied prospectively to determine the causative microorganisms. Microbial investigations included examination of postnasal swabs, cultures, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and serology. The atypical pathogens occurring most frequently were Mycoplasma pneumoniae (58 patients [41.1%]), Chlamydia pneumoniae (4 patients [2.8%]), and concurrent occurrence of both pathogens (1 patient [0.7%]). Patients aged under 4 years showed a relatively lower rate of atypical bacterial etiology compared with those aged 4 years or older. Major bacterial pathogens were detected in 89 patients (atypical pathogens were detected in 28 patients simultaneously), including Streptococcus pneumoniae in 34 patients, Haemophilus influenzae in 60, Moraxella catarrhalis in 48, and multiple pathogens in 42. In patients suspected of having atypical pneumonia, macrolides are recommended.

Adolescent↗

The status of antimicrobial resistance in Taiwan among gram-negative pathogens: the Taiwan surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (TSAR) program, 2000.

In a nationwide surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (Taiwan Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance, TSAR), isolates were collected from 21 medical centers and regional hospitals throughout Taiwan over a three-month period in 2000 (TSAR II). This report summarizes susceptibility data of 7 common Gram-negative bacilli (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, Proteus mirabilis, Enterobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii) in the TSAR II collection and compared selected key forms of resistance by epidemiologic factors and with isolates collected in 1998 (TSAR I) as well as with data from international surveillance studies. Resistance of the 5 Enterobacteriaceae species to most of the commonly prescribed "first-line" antimicrobials in Taiwan, such as ampicillin (78% in E. coli, 68% in P. mirabilis), gentamicin (19% in K. pneumonia to 66% in S. marcescens), and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (29% in K. pneumoniae to 70% in P. mirabilis), was high, several of which are higher than other countries. Resistance to certain broad-spectrum antimicrobials is also more acute in Taiwan than most Western countries, such as ceftazidime resistant A. baumannii (73%) and ciprofloxacin resistant E. coli (12%). Differences in geographic regions and specimen types were associated with certain forms of resistance in TSAR II; however, the resistance problem is prevalent among both inpatients and outpatients of not only medical centers but also regional hospitals throughout Taiwan.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Spread of drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in Asian countries: Asian Network for Surveillance of Resistant Pathogens (ANSORP) Study.

Antimicrobial susceptibility of 996 isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae from clinical specimens was investigated in 11 Asian countries from September 1996 to June 1997. Korea had the greatest frequency of nonsusceptible strains to penicillin with 79.7%, followed by Japan (65.3%), Vietnam (60.8%), Thailand (57.9%), Sri Lanka (41.2%), Taiwan (38.7%), Singapore (23.1%), Indonesia (21.0%), China (9.8%), Malaysia (9.0%), and India (3.8%). Serotypes 23F and 19F were the most common. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of 154 isolates from Asian countries showed several major PFGE patterns. The serotype 23F Spanish clone shared the same PFGE pattern with strains from Korea, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Malaysia. Fingerprinting analysis of pbp1a, pbp2x, and pbp2b genes of 12 strains from six countries also showed identical fingerprints of penicillin-binding protein genes in most strains. These data suggest the possible introduction and spread of international epidemic clones into Asian countries and the increasing problems of pneumococcal drug resistance in Asian countries for the first time.

Aminoacyltransferases↗

Molecular characterization of multidrug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates in Korea. The Asian Network for Surveillance of Resistant Pathogens (ANSORP) Study Group.

Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, ribotyping, and fingerprinting analysis of 22 invasive isolates of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pneumococci from Korea showed that 59 to 82% were genetically related. DNA sequencing of the PBP 2B gene showed relatively uniform alterations in nucleotides (5.4 to 7.8%) and amino acids (3.0 to 4. 3%), while Asn-276-->Lys, Arg-285-->Cys and Ser-305-->Phe substitutions were unique to Korean MDR strains, suggesting the spread of a few epidemic clones of resistant pneumococci within Korea.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Antimicrobial susceptibility of 1,422 Haemophilus influenzae isolates from respiratory tract infections in Spain. Results of a 1-year (1996-97) multicenter surveillance study. Spanish Surveillance Group for Respiratory Pathogens.

A Haemophilus influenzae multicenter antimicrobial susceptibility surveillance was carried out. An overall beta-lactamase production rate of 25.7% was found, with significant differences between hospitals ranging between 7.9 and 47.9%. Presumable intrinsic resistance was found in 4.6% of strains. No differences in susceptibility were observed between beta-lactamase positive and beta-lactamase negative strains for all antibiotics, except for penicillin, amoxicillin and cefaclor. A higher prevalence of resistance was found for clarithromycin vs azithromycin (22.6 vs 0.7%). Differences in all these factors make surveillance essential as a guideline for empiric treatment in community-acquired respiratory tract infections.

Drug Resistance, Microbial↗

Laboratory surveillance of bacterial gastroenteric pathogens in The Netherlands, 1991-2001.

Results of the Dutch laboratory surveillance of bacterial gastroenteritis between 1991 and 2001 are presented and compared with recent findings in general practices and in the community. Between 1996 and 2000 the mean annual number of stools screened by sentinel laboratories was about 1000 samples/100,000 inhabitants, which is 4% of the estimated annual incidence of gastroenteritis in the Dutch population. Campylobacter (36/100,000 inhabitants) and salmonella (24/100,000 inhabitants) were the main pathogens isolated. Since 1996, the incidence of laboratory confirmed salmonellosis decreased by 30%, predominantly among young children. The incidence of campylobacter was highest in urban areas and Salmonella Enteritidis emerged as the predominant serotype in urban areas. Between 1991 and 2001, multi-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 emerged to comprise up to 15% of all salmonella isolates in 2001. Reported rates of Shigella spp. and Yersinia spp. varied little, with average annual incidences of 3.2 and 1.2 cases/100,000 inhabitants, respectively. Escherichia coli O157 (90% STEC) was scarcely found (0.26/100,000).

Adolescent↗

Molecular surveillance of foodborne bacterial pathogens and resistome in food products from Hong Kong.

Foodborne infections pose an increasing public health challenge worldwide. The problem has been aggravated by the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes among zoonotic pathogens, which results in a sharp increase in antibiotic resistance rate recorded among the major foodborne pathogens. To obtain an overview of the extent to which food products purchased in the markets in Hong Kong were contaminated by foodborne pathogens, we collected 95 raw meat samples from wet markets and isolated 236 bacterial strains of various species, with Escherichia coli being the most dominant species (131 strains). Contamination of food products by multiple foodborne pathogens was commonly observed. These include both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria that exhibit various levels of resistance, with some possessing multiple clinically important antibiotic resistance genes. Seventeen bacterial strains of various species isolated from three food samples were comprehensively analysed by the Oxford Nanopore R10.4 technology. Novel conjugative plasmids carrying antimicrobial resistance gene-bearing mobile genetic elements were commonly detectable in the test strains. Some of the plasmids were shown to have originated from other environmental sources or other bacterial species, indicating that raw foods in the local market may serve as a reservoir of resistance-encoding genetic elements from which such elements are disseminated to various microbial pathogens. These findings suggest a need to perform periodic but comprehensive surveillance of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens and the major antimicrobial resistance genes in common food products, so as to disrupt the transmission routes of such organisms and the resistance-encoding genetic elements that they harbour.

Hong Kong↗

Filter paper for preservation, storage, and distribution of insect and pathogen DNA samples.

Proper DNA storage is critical for studies involving genetic analysis of insects and for molecular diagnostics of pathogens carried by them. Molecular surveillance of pathogens carried by insects can involve screening of thousands of insect DNA samples. Problems with storage and degradation of these samples can arise. In this study, a simple filter paper-based method for storage and preservation of insect DNA was evaluated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). DNA was isolated from individual house fly, Musca domestica L., adults by using a cell lysis technique. From 50 house flies known to carry Campylobacter spp., a portion of the DNA sample was stored frozen and another portion was pipetted onto filter paper. At monthly intervals for 7 mo, PCR was conducted using 1 microl of the frozen DNA sample and a 2.0-mm disk from the filter paper samples as the PCR template. Two markers were used, a 450-bp region of the insect mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) ND5 gene and a 857-bp region of the Campylobacter spp. mtDNA 16S rDNA gene. PCR amplification was successful for all of the samples regardless of the storage method. The filter paper method is a simple and economical way to store, preserve, and distribute DNA samples for PCR analysis.

Animals↗

Is there an ecological relationship between rates of antibiotic resistance of species of the genus Streptococcus? The Spanish Surveillance Group for Respiratory Pathogens.

The relationship between resistance to antibiotics on the part of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes was studied by comparing different prevalences of resistance among hospitals obtained from a recent microbiological surveillance of community-acquired respiratory tract infections. A high correlation for erythromycin resistance was found between S. pneumoniae isolates from lower respiratory tract infections and S. pyogenes isolates collected from pharyngeal swabs.

Drug Resistance, Microbial↗

Tissue archives to track blood borne pathogens in people receiving blood products.

Tissue banks for surveillance of pathogens, research and transplantation have been established in a variety of settings, and following a variety of guidelines. There are significant and changing ethical, moral, and legal issues in the development and use of such archives. The Association of Hemophilia Clinic Directors of Canada has established an archive of blood samples to test for known and emerging blood borne pathogens, and known and emerging blood clotting genes. Key to the development of the tissue bank was the consent process for sample collection and handling, the establishment of standard operating procedures for the handling of samples and data, and the establishment of an oversight board.

Blood Banks↗

Health surveillance of specific pathogen-free and conventionally-housed mice and rats in Korea.

The present study contains information about proper microbiological monitoring of laboratory animals' health and the standardization of microbiological monitoring methods in Korea. Microbiological quality control for laboratory animals, composed of biosecurity and health surveillance, is essential to guard against research complications and public health dangers that have been associated with adventitious infections. In this study, one hundred and twenty-two mice and ninety rats from laboratory animal breeding companies and one animal facility of the national universities in Korea were monitored in 2000-2003. Histopathologically, thickening of the alveolar walls and lymphocytic infiltration around the bronchioles were observed in mice and rats from microbiologically contaminated facilities. Cryptosporidial oocysts were observed in the gastric pits of only conventionally-housed mice and rats. Helicobacter spp. infection was also detected in 1 of 24 feces DNA samples in mice and 9 of 40 feces DNA samples in rats by PCR in 2003, but they were not Helicobacter hepaticus. This paper describes bacteriological, parasitological, and virological examinations of the animals.

Animals↗

Pathogen frequency and resistance patterns in Brazilian hospitals: summary of results from three years of the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program.

BACKGROUND: Pathogen frequency and resistance patterns may vary significantly from country to country and also in different hospitals within a country. Thus, regional surveillance programs are essential to guide empirical therapy and infection control measures. METHODS: Rank order of occurrence and antimicrobial susceptibility of pathogenic species causing bloodstream infections (BSI), lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI), wound or skin and soft tissue infections (WSSTI), and urinary tract infections (UTI) in hospitalized patients were determined by collecting consecutive isolates over a specified period of time, as part of the SENTRY Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program (SENTRY). All isolates were tested by reference broth microdilution. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: A total of 3,728 bacterial strains were obtained from January, 1997, to December, 1999, from 12 Brazilian hospitals located in 4 states. The largest number of isolates were obtained from patients with BSI (2,008), followed by LRTI (822 cases), UTI (468 cases), and WSSTI (430 cases). Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated pathogen in general (22.8% - 852 isolates), followed by E. coli (13.8% - 516 cases) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13.3% - 496 cases). Staphylococcus aureus was also the most common species isolated from BSI (23.6%) and WSSTI (45.8%), and P. aeruginosa was the most frequent species isolated from patients with LRTI (29.4%). The main bacterial resistance problems found in this study were: imipenem resistance among P. aeruginosa (69.8% susceptibility) and Acinetobacter spp. (88.1% susceptibility); ESBL production among K. pneumoniae (48.4%) and E. coli (8.9%); resistance to third generation cephalosporins among Enterobacter spp. (68.1% susceptible to ceftazidime) and oxacillin resistance among S. aureus (34.0%) and coagulase negative staphylococci (80.1%). Only the carbapenems (88.1% to 89.3% susceptibility) showed reasonable activity against the Acinetobacter spp. isolates evaluated.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Streptococcus pneumoniae in community-acquired respiratory tract infections in Spain: the impact of serotype and geographical, seasonal and clinical factors on its susceptibility to the most commonly prescribed antibiotics. The Spanish Surveillance Group for Respiratory Pathogens.

Resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae to antimicrobial agents shows geographical variation and also depends on serotype, patient age and sample origin. Factors affecting antibiotic resistance in S. pneumoniae were studied from results of a multicentre susceptibility study of 12 antimicrobial agents, carried out in 14 Spanish hospitals between May 1996 and April 1997. The most frequent serotypes were serotypes 6 (14.8%), 19 (11.8%), 23 (10.5%), 3 (9.9%), 9 (8.0%), 14 (8.0%), 15 (3.9%) and 11 (3.2%); 9.6% of isolates were not typeable. The remaining 25 serotypes constituted 20.2% of strains. Penicillin resistance was more prevalent in serotypes 14 (88%), 23 (66%), 9 (62%) and 6 (57%), whereas erythromycin resistance was more prevalent in serotypes 6 (68.5%), 15 (61.4%), 14 (49.5%), 19 (42.7%) and 23 (39.3%). Serotypes 6 and 19 were the serotypes most commonly isolated from both children and adults, although with different proportions (24.0% and 19.2% of isolates from children were serotype 6 and 19, respectively, with the corresponding figures for isolates from adults being 13.6% and 11.5%, respectively). The rates of resistance of pneumococcal strains to penicillin and cefuroxime were significantly higher in strains from children than in those from adults (resistance to penicillin, 50.4% in children and 37.0% in adults; resistance to cefuroxime, 62.4% in children and 45.6% in adults). There was significantly more resistance to erythromycin in middle ear isolates (48.9%) than in blood isolates (27%). The prevalence of resistance to beta-lactams showed a seasonal pattern, with higher rates in summer and winter, proportional to the magnitude of resistance. Susceptibility to macrolides did not vary seasonally. Our results stress the relative importance that geographical, temporal (seasonality), patient (sample type, origin, age group) and bacterium-related (serotype) factors have on the variations in susceptibility observed among different pneumococcal clinical isolates.

Adult↗

Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance of invasive pathogens: the Estonian experience.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the needs for surveillance of invasive Gram-negative pathogens in Estonia. The antimicrobial susceptibility data of invasive isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella spp, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and enterococci were collected in accordance with EARSS (European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System) protocols. Despite the higher rate of Gram positive pathogens, their resistance to antimicrobials was low in contrast to the elevated resistance established for Gram negative pathogens. The higher resistance to antimicrobials was particularly associated with A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa. Also, the proportion of extended spectrum betalactamase (ESBL)-producing strains was 23% among Klebsiella spp. and 3.6% among E. coli. The inclusion of invasive Gram negative pathogens in antimicrobial resistance surveillance provides useful information concerning local pathogen susceptibility, as well as for the empirical treatment of suspected infections.

Drug Resistance, Microbial↗

The role of surveillance cultures in patients likely to develop chemotherapy-induced mucositis.

Mucositis can be the major dose-limiting toxicity during the adminstration of certain types of chemotherapy, especially 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate and doxorubicin. Infection probably plays a role after initial inflammatory changes occurs in the mucous membranes of the mouth after chemotherapy, especially if the patient becomes neutropenic. The issues addressed in this paper following a review of the literature are whether surveillance cultures can be helpful to avoid mucositis or at least predict who will be at risk for its development and whether this will be a help in decisions on the antimicrobial treatment that should be given if mucositis develops. Bacterial, fungal and viral causes of mucositis have been identified. The simplest to deal with is viral, since if herpes simplex is identified it should be treated with acyclovir; in the case of allogeneic bone marrow transplants acyclovir is usually given prophylactically. Fungal organisms almost certainly play a part; especially if a Candida species, particularly Candida tropicalis, is identified in surveillance cultures, it is probably important. The significance of bacterial pathogens in surveillance cultures is more difficult to sort out except for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which almost always predicts for eventual systemic infection, especially bacteraemia. The poor overall predictive value (both positive and negative) for surveillance cultures and their significant expense do not support their routine use in 1997.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗