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PubMed1996

A new selective differential medium for isolation of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.

A new selective differential medium for the isolation of Stenotrophomonas (formerly Xanthomonas) maltophilia was developed. The medium, VIA agar, contained vancomycin, imipenem, and amphotericin B as selective agents and incorporated a mannitol/bromothymol blue indicator system. Compared with Xanthomonas maltophilia Selective Medium (XMSM), VIA agar was less inhibitory to Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and was more selective than XMSM in preventing the growth of unwanted bacteria from contaminated specimens. Although vancomycin-resistant strains of Enterococcus faecium may grow on VIA agar, these can be easily distinguished from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia because of mannitol fermentation.

Amphotericin B↗

PubMed1992

Comparative in vitro activity of clarithromycin. Spanish Collaborative Group.

The activity in vitro of clarithromycin, a new macrolide, was compared to that of various antibiotics in tests using 3,880 clinical isolates. Clarithromycin was two times more active than erythromycin against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, streptococci of groups C, G and F, Brucella melitensis, Legionella pneumophila and Mycoplasma spp., 16 times more active against Ureaplasma urealyticum and 2 to 4 times less active against Campylobacter spp. In general, clarithromycin showed intrinsic activity 2 to 4 times higher than that of roxithromycin and 4 to 8 times higher than that of miocamycin. Cross-resistance was found between the macrolides. Clarithromycin was bactericidal against Streptococcus spp. and Haemophilus influenzae.

Clarithromycin↗

PubMed1989

In vitro antibacterial activity and beta-lactamase stability of the new carbapenem SM-7338.

The in vitro activity of the new carbapenem SM-7338 was tested in comparison with imipenem, ceftazidime, cefotaxime, flomoxef, cefuzonam and cefmetazole against 2850 clinical bacterial isolates. SM-7338 showed good activity against a broad spectrum of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. SM-7338 was very active against gram-negative bacteria, inhibiting all Enterobacteriaceae, except 25% of Serratia marcescens isolates, at a concentration of 0.78 mg/l. SM-7338 inhibited the majority of Pseudomonas spp. at concentrations of less than or equal to 3.13 mg/l, its activity being twofold higher than that of imipenem. However, the activity of SM-7338 against gram-positive cocci was about one-fourth that of imipenem. Against anaerobes, SM-7338 also had the best activity of the beta-lactams tested. The compound was inactive against methicillin-resistant staphylococci, Enterococcus faecium, Xanthomonas maltophilia and Flavobacterium spp., as were the other beta-lactams. SM-7338 was quite stable in the presence of various types of beta-lactamase, but was hydrolyzed by Xanthomonas maltophilia beta-lactamase, as was imipenem. This high degree of stability was responsible for the potent activity of SM-7388 against beta-lactamase-producing species such as Enterobacter cloacae, Citrobacter freundii and Proteus vulgaris. SM-7338 also showed bactericidal activity against clinical isolates at the MIC or at concentrations slightly above the MIC.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed1987

In vitro activity of LY146032 (daptomycin) against selected aerobic bacteria.

The in vitro activity of the new lipopeptide antibiotic LY146032 was generally four-fold greater (MIC 90 less than or equal to 0.5 microgram/ml) than that of vancomycin against methicillin-susceptible or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative species of Staphylococcus. Enterococci, Streptococcus bovis, group B and viridans streptococci, and Corynebacterium group J-K isolates were inhibited by less than or equal to 4 micrograms/ml of LY146032, which represented activity equivalent to or greater than that of vancomycin. Unlike vancomycin, LY146032 was bactericidal for Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium and Listeria monocytogenes. Due to its bactericidal properties LY146032 appeared to represent an improvement over vancomycin and teicoplanin.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed2005

Human defensins.

Antimicrobial peptides are small, cationic, amphiphilic peptides of 12-50 amino acids with microbicidal activity against both bacteria and fungi. The eukaryotic antimicrobial peptides may be divided into four distinct groups according to their structural features: cysteine-free alpha-helices, extended cysteine-free alpha-helices with a predominance of one or two amino acids, loop structures with one intramolecular disulfide bond, and beta-sheet structures which are stabilised by two or three intramolecular disulfide bonds. Mammalian defensins are part of the last-mentioned group. The mammalian defensins can be subdivided into three main classes according to their structural differences: the alpha-defensins, beta-defensins and the recently described theta-defensins. Mammalian alpha-defensins are predominantly found in neutrophils and in small intestinal Paneth cells, whereas mammalian beta-defensins have been isolated from both leukocytes and epithelial cells. Recently, two novel human beta-defensins, human beta-defensin-3 (HBD-3), and human beta-defensin-4 (HBD-4) have been discovered. Similar to HBD-1 and HBD-2, HBD-3 has microbicidal activity towards the Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli) and the yeasts Candida albicans and Malassezia furfur. In addition, HBD-3 kills Gram-positive bacteria such as Streptococcus pyogenes or Staphylococcus aureus, including multi-resistant S. aureus strains, and even vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium. In contrast to HBD-1 and HBD-2, significant expression of HBD-3 has been demonstrated in non-epithelial tissues, such as leukocytes, heart and skeletal muscle. HBD-4 is expressed in certain epithelia and in neutrophils. Its bactericidal activity against P. aeruginosa is stronger than that of the other known beta-defensins. Here we present an overview of human antimicrobial peptides with some emphasis on their antifungal properties.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Stool cultures obtained before liver transplantation are useful for choice of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis.

Bacterial infections, especially cholangitis, are still common complications after liver transplantation (LTx). During recent years, multiresistant enterococci have become a nosocomial problem in transplant units. The present prospective study on 26 patients, including 24 patients with chronic liver disease, demonstrated that enterococci were the predominant micro-organism involved in post-LTx bacterial infections. They were cultured in the feces and in other sites of 10 out of 13 (77%) patients who underwent extensive examinations. Ampicillin-resistant Enterococcus faecium strains were isolated in urine or feces of 2 of the 13 patients prior to LTx. Similarly, resistance to ampicillin and gentamicin, the empirically used antibiotics for patients with fever of unknown origin, was found in E. faecium strains in 3 and 2 patients, respectively. Moreover, multiresistant E. faecium and E. faecalis strains were demonstrated in 46% of the patients in the postoperative period (3 months). However, no vancomycin-resistant enterococci were isolated. The use of antibiotics within 4 months prior to LTx significantly increased the risk of developing ampicillin-resistant bacteria at the time of LTx and of infections with bacteria of enteric origin after LTx (P = 0.03 and 0.01, respectively). We conclude that stool and urine cultures performed prior to LTX may be useful for selecting prophylactic antibiotic regimens.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

P45, an extracellular 45 kDa protein of Listeria monocytogenes with similarity to protein p60 and exhibiting peptidoglycan lytic activity.

A monoclonal antibody obtained by immunization of mice with heat-killed cells of Listeria monocytogenes serotype 4d showed reactivity towards a protein (P45) from L. monocytogenes with an apparent molecular mass of 45 kDa. This protein was detected in the culture supernatant and at the cell surface of L. monocytogenes. Proteins cross-reacting with the monoclonal antibody were present in all Listeria strains investigated, except L. grayi. The structural gene was cloned in Escherichia coli and sequenced. Translation of the gene starts at a TTG initiation codon. The gene was found to code for a protein of 402 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular mass of 42.7 kDa. It has a signal peptide of 27 amino acid residues, resulting in a molecular mass for the mature polypeptide of 39.9 kDa. Protein database searches showed that this protein has 55% similarity and 38% identity to protein p60 of L. monocytogenes and exhibits significant sequence similarities to p54 from Enterococcus faecium and Usp45 from Lactococcus lactis. P45 was shown to have peptidoglycan lytic activity and the encoding gene was named spl (secreted protein with lytic property).

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2004

In vitro activity and in vivo efficacy of antimicrobial-coated vascular grafts.

The serious medical consequences and costly management of infections associated with vascular grafts have prompted an expanding interest in examining the preventive efficacy of antimicrobial-coated vascular grafts. The purpose of antimicrobial coating of vascular grafts is to reduce bacterial colonization of the device and, hopefully, the occurrence of clinical infection. In this study we demonstrated that expanded-polytetrafluoroethylene vascular grafts coated with minocycline and rifampin provide broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity in vitro, as reflected by zones of inhibition, against Staphylococcus epidermidis, S. aureus, Enterococcus faecium, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We also showed in a rabbit model that subcutaneously placed minocycline/rifampin-coated vascular grafts have lower rates of staphylococcal device colonization (1/24 = 4% vs. 8/30 = 27%, p = 0.033) and device-related infection (0/24 = 0% vs. 6/30 = 20%, p = 0.028) than uncoated grafts. These promising results encourage the clinical evaluation of vascular grafts coated with minocycline and rifampin.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Evaluation of the Vitek 2 system for rapid identification of clinical isolates of gram-negative bacilli and members of the family Streptococcaceae.

Accuracy of the Vitek 2 automated system (bioMérieux Vitek, USA) for rapid identification of bacteria was evaluated using a collection of 858 epidemiologically unrelated gram-negative and 99 gram-positive clinical isolates. Isolates were tested after subculturing to ensure purity. Conventional agar-based biochemical tests (Steers replicator) were used as a reference method of identification. Gram-negative bacteria were identified to the species level with 95.3% accuracy by the system ( Enterobacteriaceae, 95.9%; and non- Enterobacteriaceae, 92.5%), and gram-positive isolates with 72% accuracy. Although Vitek 2 identified routine clinical isolates of gram-negative bacilli and Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium reliably, rapidly, and reproducibly, improvement is required in the identification of less common species of enterococci and viridans group streptococci.

Automation↗

PubMed2001

Multicenter evaluation of an automated system using selected bacteria that harbor challenging and clinically relevant mechanisms of resistance to antibiotics.

A multicenter study was carried out to evaluate the performance of a new commercial automated system in comparison with that of the reference agar dilution method. Ten clinical microbiology laboratories tested a collection of 61 strains of gram-negative bacilli (49 Enterobacteriaceae and 12 Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and 6 other laboratories tested a collection of 55 strains of gram-positive cocci (10 enterococci and 45 staphylococci) against 10-20 antimicrobial agents. The strains were selected on the basis that they harbored challenging and characterized mechanisms of resistance. In comparison with the agar reference method, the automated system gave an overall essential agreement (+/-1 dilution) of 94.5%, 93.5%, and 97% for the gram-negative bacilli, enterococci, and staphylococci, respectively. According to the interpretive standards of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards, the category agreement ranged from 96 to 96.4% for the three sets of organisms. The accuracy of the automated system, as determined by the kappa test, ranged from 0.80 to 0.88, reflecting an almost perfect agreement with the reference technique. Very major, major, and minor errors obtained with the automated system were 0.3%, 2.9%, and 6.6% for gram-negative bacilli, 3.4%, 0%, and 5% for enterococci, and 1%, 1.6%, and 2.7% for staphylococci, respectively. The high rate of very major errors in enterococci was mostly due to a single strain of multidrug-resistant Enterococcus faecium, which was found susceptible to several antibiotics in a majority of participant laboratories. The use of a heavy inoculum and of a broth test medium by the automated system might account for a better expression of certain resistance mechanisms, including beta-lactamases, as compared to the agar dilution reference method. The interlaboratory reproducibility was acceptable, as shown by the narrow dispersion of MICs and by the results of quality control.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed2005

Survey of the susceptibility of urinary isolates to antibacterial agents in 2003.

In 2003, 826 uropathogenic strains were obtained from the urine of our patients. We assessed their activities to antibacterial agents based on the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) breakpoints recommended by the National Committee for Clinical Standards (NCCLS). Methicillin-resistant strains accounted for about 70% of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The most common gram-positive species was Enterococcus faecalis (15.6%). Enterococcus faecium was the most resistant of the enterococcal species, and the rate of susceptibility to beta-lactams (BLs), fluoroquinolones (FQs), and tetracyclines (TCs) was 0%, 6%, and less than 18%, respectively. Escherichia coli accounted for over 50% of the gram-negative bacilli. The proportion of FQ-resistant or intermediate strains was over 20%, and four of these strains (1.1%) were suspected of producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL). All the ESBL-producing strains (ESBLs) possess resistance to FQs. Over 95% of Klebsiella pneumoniae was susceptible to all agents. The distribution of antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa indicated a decrease in the number of multidrug-resistant strains and an increase in strains susceptible to all agents. Some differences existed in the resistance to antibacterial agents among Proteus species. No ESBL-producing or multidrug-resistant strain was isolated from Serratia marcescens. This survey suggests that serious clinical problems will result from the increasing number of enterococcal species with multidrug resistance in gram-positive cocci, and isolates of ESBL-producing or FQs-resistant strains in gram-negative bacilli.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed2005

Bacteriophage therapy: a revitalized therapy against bacterial infectious diseases.

Bacteriophage (phage) therapy involves using phages or their products as bioagents for the treatment or prophylaxis of bacterial infectious diseases. Much evidence in support of the effectiveness of phage therapy against bacterial infectious diseases has accumulated since 1980 from animal model studies conducted in Western countries. Reports indicate that appropriate administration of living phages can be used to treat lethal infectious diseases caused by gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Vibrio vulnificus, and Salmonella spp., and gram-positive bacteria, such as Enterococcus faecium and Staphylococcus aureus. The phage display system and genetically modified nonreplicating phages are also effective for treatment of Helicobacter pylori and P. aeruginosa, respectively. In addition to phage particles per se, purified phage-encoded peptidoglycan hydrolase (lysin) is also reported to be effective for the treatment of bacterial infectious diseases caused by gram-positive bacteria such as Streptococcus pyogenes, S. pneumoniae, Bacillus anthracis, and group B streptococci. All phage lysins that have been studied to date exhibit immediate and strong bacteriolytic activity when applied exogenously. Furthermore, phage-coded inhibitors of peptidoglycan synthesis (protein antibiotics), search methods for novel antibacterial agents using phage genome informatics, and vaccines utilizing phages or their products are being developed. Phage therapy will compensate for unavoidable complications of chemotherapy such as the appearance of multidrug resistance or substituted microbism.

Bacteriophages↗

PubMed2000

Present situation of antimicrobial resistance in Korea.

Resistance of bacteria to antimicrobial agents is a worldwide concern. In Korea, resistant bacteria are more prevalent than in other industrialized countries. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, erythromycin-resistant Streptococcus pyogenes, penicillin non-susceptible pneumococci, beta-lactamase-producing gonococci, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, class C beta-lactamase-producing E. coli, fluoroquinolone-resistant E. coli, and aminoglycoside-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are examples of resistant bacteria prevalent in Korea, and their presence suggests a high level of antimicrobial selective pressure and the nosocomial spread of resistant bacteria. Recently observed rapid increases in the incidence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium and carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa present new threats in Korea.

Cross Infection↗

PubMed1990

Technologically important characteristics of Enterococcus isolates from milk and dairy products.

Enterococcus faecium (54 strains), E. faecalis (40 strains), and E. durans (14) were isolated from various dairy products (raw milk, cream, butter and fermented milk products) during a previous study (Wessels et al., 1988). In this article various characteristics of these isolates, which may have a bearing on their significance in dairy products, have been studied. A large percentage of the identified strains of all three species were able to grow at 7 degrees C. Seventy-six percent of the E. faecium strains, 62% E. faecalis and 50% E. durans strains also showed proteolytic activity at psychrotrophic temperatures. The fact that proteolytic activity could be detected within 2 days at 7 degrees C is significant, since bulk cooled milk is normally held for 3 to 4 days at temperatures between 4 and 7 degrees C at farms or factories prior to processing. This examination confirmed that enterococci are proteolytic rather than lipolytic.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Characterization and partial purification of a bacteriocin produced by Leuconostoc carnosum LA44A.

Twenty Leuconostoc strains isolated from vacuum packaged Vienna-type sausages were screened for antagonistic activity against various Gram-positive organisms (including Listeria spp.). One of the three strains exhibiting inhibitory activity was chosen for further investigation. This strain was identified as Leuc. carnosum and the inhibitory substance produced was named carnosin. Carnosin was inactivated by trypsin but not by catalase or other non-proteolytic enzymes tested. Carnosin retained activity after heating at 100 degrees C for 20 min, whereas heating at 121 degrees C for 15 min resulted in complete loss of activity. Carnosin was active at pH values ranging from 2 to 9. Carnosin activity was not detectable until cells were in the late log-phase of growth. At low temperatures (4 degrees C), higher cell densities were required before carnosin activity could be detected. Carnosin was active against various lactic acid bacteria, Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium and against Listeria spp. Difficulties in purification were reduced by growing Leuc. carnosum in a modified MRS medium, having 50% of the normal peptone concentration and no Tween or meat extract. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of partially purified carnosin indicated that it has a molecular mass between 2510 and 6000 Da. Yet, retention of activity after exhaustive dialysis suggested a molecular mass > 14kDa. It is hypothesized that carnosin forms large active complexes which can be dissociated to small (active) components.

Bacteriocins↗

PubMed1994

Differences in the sensitivity to eight disinfectants of Listeria monocytogenes strains as related to their origin (short note).

The efficacy of eight commercialized disinfectants proposed by several manufacturers was evaluated using the French standard in the presence of organic matter and against Listeria monocytogenes and L. innocua strains isolated in a dairy plant, against other Listeria strains of various origin and reference strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecium. Products containing quaternary ammonium plus peroxide or amine were shown to be efficient at the concentrations recommended by the manufacturer. Differences in sensitivities were noticed for one disinfectant containing chlorine.

Disinfectants↗

PubMed1991

The evaluation of residual antimicrobial activity on hands and its clinical relevance.

A model for evaluation of the residual activity of agents used for hygienic hand disinfection, which relates closely to the "in-use" setting, is described. We looked for residual activity following hand disinfection by a standard method with soap and water and four skin disinfectants in common use. Two test organisms known to have caused cross-infection and having clinically-significant antibiotic resistance were used: a strain of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium and one of gentamicin-multiply-resistant Enterobacter cloacae. Both organisms survived well on artificially inoculated hands. Residual activity on previously disinfected hands against both test organisms was most marked for alcoholic chlorhexidine ('Hibisol') which showed a 4 log10 reduction within 1 min of inoculation. Chlorhexidine digluconate skin cleanser ('Hibiscrub') and povidone-iodine surgical scrub ('Betadine') also had marked residual activity, but less than alcoholic chlorhexidine. 60% Isopropanol showed no residual activity and, except for marginal activity against E. cloacae, soap and water showed little residual activity. The residual activity of alcoholic chlorhexidine may be useful to control cross-infection with those multiply-resistant strains which survive well on fingers previously washed with soap and water.

1-Propanol↗

PubMed1995

New threats to the control of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Several countries have achieved considerable success in the control of epidemic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). However, in several hospitals in the UK, MRSA strains of enhanced epidemicity, notably EMRSA-16, are becoming endemic. Our inability to eliminate the cause of a single-strain outbreak is unfamiliar and unnerving. Factors in 'market-led' health care delivery that hinder control of MRSA include a shortage of inpatient beds, patients moving from ward to ward, and more mixed-specialty wards. Increasing use of day treatments leaves an inpatient hospital population with more risk factors for infection. Early discharge of infected patients to convalescent homes, or to homes for the elderly, has created a new reservoir of infected and colonized patients. The emergence of high-level mupirocin resistance may soon also contribute to failure of control. The transfer of vancomycin resistance from Enterococcus faecium to a laboratory strain of S. aureus suggests that, especially in hospitals with both vancomycin-resistant enterococci and MRSA, there is the opportunity for the emergence of vancomycin-resistant MRSA for which there may be no effective antimicrobial prophylaxis or treatment. It is increasingly important to persuade hospital managers that even partial control of MRSA, whilst expensive, is still cost-effective and is a quality issue for individual hospitals. The control of EMRSA-16 in one hospital has recently been estimated to have saved more than 629,000 pounds extra costs. MRSA continues to be at the forefront of those organisms that seriously challenge modern technological medicine and surgery.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗