Evaluation of the expression of human CAP18 gene during neutrophil maturation in the bone marrow.

To understand the gene expression of CAP18 (18-kDa cationic antibacterial protein), a member of cathelicidins, we evaluated mRNA and protein expression of CAP18 using human bone marrow cells and mature neutrophils. Northern blot analysis revealed that CAP18 mRNA was expressed more abundantly in bone marrow cells than mature neutrophils, whereas Western blot analysis indicated that CAP18 protein was more abundant in mature neutrophils than bone marrow cells. Consistent with this, in situ hybridization using bone marrow cells demonstrated that the expression of CAP18 mRNA was neutrophil lineage-specific and was observed primarily in myelocytes (>95%) with limited expression in more immature cells (promyelocytes) and mature cells (metamyelocytes, band cells, and segmented neutrophils). Furthermore, immunohistochemical study indicated that, coincident with the increase of CAP18 mRNA levels, CAP18-positive cells increased markedly at myelocyte stage, and the increased levels remained almost constant (>95%) in metamyelocytes, band cells, and segmented neutrophils, although the mRNA levels were remarkably reduced in these cells. Together these observations indicate that CAP18 gene transcription likely occurs lineage- and stage-specifically at the myelocyte stage of neutrophil maturation in the bone marrow and results in the synthesis and cytoplasmic accumulation of CAP18, which is present in the subsequent stages of neutrophil maturation.

Local anesthetic lidocaine inhibits the effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on human neutrophil functions.

Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) enhanced superoxide (O2-) release in human neutrophils stimulated by the chemotactic peptide N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) and inversely regulated the surface expression of cellular adhesion molecules, leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (LAM-1) and CD11b/CD18 leukocyte integrin, on human neutrophils; that is, rhG-CSF downregulated the expression of LAM-1 and upregulated the expression of CD11b on neutrophils. The cationic local anesthetic lidocaine inhibited not only FMLP-induced O2- release in neutrophils but also FMLP-induced CD11b upregulation and LAM-1 downregulation on neutrophils in a dose-dependent manner. Lidocaine also abolished the priming effect of rhG-CSF for enhanced release of O2- in neutrophils and inhibited rhG-CSF-induced CD11b upregulation and LAM-1 downregulation on neutrophils in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that lidocaine inhibits human neutrophil functions, such as adherence to endothelial cells, by interfering with the expression of cellular adhesion molecules on neutrophils, and that lidocaine might have anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting the effect of inflammatory cytokines.

Molecular characterization of epidemic multiresistant Staphylococcus haemolyticus isolates.

Fifty-five Staphylococcus haemolyticus specimens isolated from patients and neonatal intensive care unit staff were tested for susceptibility to 12 antimicrobial agents. There were 34 multidrug-resistant isolates which were resistant to oxacillin, ampicillin, cefazolin, cefmetazole, imipenem, and gentamicin. These isolates had a higher frequency of resistance to tobramicin and ofloxacin, and relatively high MICs (2 to 4 micrograms/mL) for vancomycin, although none of the isolates were vancomycin resistant. To investigate hospital-acquired colonization and infection by multiresistant S. haemolyticus, we examined all isolates by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) after SmaI and SstII digestion, and detected an endemic PFGE pattern in multiresistant isolates. The results suggested that local spread of multiresistant S. haemolyticus was hospital acquired, and that the hospital staffs functioned as a reservoir.

Elecsys TSH, FT4, T4, T-uptake, FT3 and T3. Clinical results of a multicentre study.

6 assays for the assessment of thyroid function (TSH, FT4, T4, T-uptake, FT3 and T3) were targets of the International Multicenter Study on the random access analyzer Elecsys 2010. The aim of the study was to characterize the clinical performance of the assay in method comparison and reference range studies. The assays under evaluation were compared to a broad variety of radio isotopic and non-radio isotopic assays. They are suitable for serum and plasma samples. In case of TSH the study include 2nd and 3rd generation TSH procedures. In general, good to excellent correlations were found between the Elecsys and the respective routine methods. Systematic deviations were extraordinary low in case of TSH, FT4 and T4. Regarding the analysis of T3 and FT3 some systematic deviations in terms of standardization have been observed. Results of Elecsys T4 and Elecsys FT4 were independent of the serum total protein or serum albumin concentrations. In T3 and FT3 Elecsys the results of samples from NTI (non-thyroidal-illness) patients were decreased, reflecting the physiological situation in these patients. Studies using samples from healthy euthyroid as well as untreated hypo- and hyperthyroid individuals enabled us to assess the assays reference ranges.

[Studies on coagulase negative Staphylococci isolated from urine].

This study was conducted to invesitigate the relative frequency of Staphylocossus spp. and coagulase negative Staphylococci (CNS) isolates from urine at Juntendo University Hospital in Tokyo. The frequency of Staphylococci spp. was encountered in about 10% of the cases from 1984 to 1994 (except 1992 and 1993), and no significant annual changes were observed. The frequency of Staphylococcus aureus has been gradually increasing from 1986. The relative frequency of CNS (321 strains) from 1989 to 1994 were as follows; Staphylococcus epidermidis 36%, Staphylococcus saprophyticus 26%, Staphylococcus haemolyticus 22%, Staphylococus caprae 8%, and other CNS 8%. S. saprophyticus, most of which were isolated from female out-patients, were suggested to be the important pathogen of acute urinary tract infections. All of S. caprae were isolated from male patients. Most of S. epidermidis isolated from inpatients of urinary tracts with other bacteria.

[Antimicrobial susceptibility of coagulase negative staphylococci isolated from urine].

This study was conducted to investigate the antimicrobial susceptibilities of the strains of coagulase negative Staphylococci (CNS) isolates from urine at Juntendo University Hospital in Tokyo from 1989 to 1994. The susceptibility testing were performed according to the broth dilution method standerdized by the Japan Society of Chemotherapy. The following bacteria were tested; Staphylococcus epidermidis (59 strains), Staphylococcus haemolyticus (42 strains), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (30 strains). The antimicrobial agents tested wre as follows; Oxacillin, Cefazolin, Imipenem, Flomoxef, Gentanicin, Tobramycin, Arbekacin, Clindamycin, Tetracycline, Minicycline, Vancomycin, Sulfamethoxaxole-Trimethoprim and, Ofloxacin. 1. 100% of S. caprae, 62% of S. haemolyticus and 42% of S. epidermidis were resistant to Oxacillin. All strains of S. saprophyticus were sensitive to Oxacillin. 2. S. saprophyticus showed the highest sensitivities to all anti-microbial agents. 3. All strains of S. caprae were resistant to Tobramycin and Clindamycine. 4. Vancomycin and Arbecacin has strong antimicrobial activities to all CNS. S. saprophyticus, which is the pathogen of acute urinary tract infections, showed high sensitivities to many antimicrobial agents. On the other hand, S. haemolyticus and S. caprae, which are the predominate microorganisms of bacteriuria of inpatients, showed high resistance rates to antimicrobial agents.

[Epidemiological study on Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from bloodstream and blood vessel catheter].

An epidemiological study on 35 strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis was conducted in Juntendo University Hospital between 1994 and 1996. The strains were isolated from blood and blood vessel catheters. Three epidemiological markers; PFGE type (pulsed-field gel electrophoresis using SmaI), biotype by STAPHYOGRAM and antibiotype (antibiotic resistant pattern) were used. There were 12 types in PFGE type, 6 types in biotype and 7 types in antibiotype. 1. The predominant types were PFGE type A (57.1%), biotype 1 (62.9%), and antibiotype I (resistant for oxacillin, ampicillin and gentamicin; 34.3%) in Juntendo University Hospital. 2. The strains with antibiotic V-VII (resistant for over 6 antibiotics) showed only PFGE type A and B. All strains with PFGE type B showed biotype 4-6 (negative nitrate reduction strain). 3. The strains having PFGE type A and B were isolated from various patient wards. The strains showing PFGE type A and antibiotype I were isolated from the pediatric ward. 4. There was no strain with PFGE type C or D in 1996. 5. Three patients in whom S. epidermidis was frequently isolated for a few months had the same types of PFGE type, biotype as well as antibiotype.

Usefulness of hybrid capture HPV DNA assay as a diagnostic tool for human papillomavirus infection.

The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of the hybrid capture HPV DNA assay, a new nonradioactive solution hybridization assay, as a diagnostic tool for human papillomavirus infection. In a total of 234 women, samples for the hybrid capture assay and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay were obtained by wiping a swab across the cervix and external os (either a Dacron swab or a cotton swab was used). The papanicolaou smear test (Pap smear) was carried out on all 234 women. Tissue samples for biopsy were obtained by colposcopy from 118 of the women. Fisher exact test was used for statistical analyses. Using the hybrid capture assay, HPV DNA of high- and intermediate-oncogenic-risk type was detected in 23 (13.9%) of 166 samples from women with Pap smear Class I or II, and 48 (70.6%) of 68 with Pap smear Class III, IV or V (p < 0.0001). The HPV DNA type was detected in 18 (29.0%) of 62 samples from those with no evidence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and 44 (78.6%) of 56 with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or squamous cell carcinoma (p < 0.0001). Correlation of the test results between the hybrid capture test and PCR was determined by using the 217 samples in which both test results were available (PCR test results were not obtainable in 17 samples. When PCR is set as a gold standard, the hybrid capture test has high sensitivity (74.6%) and specificity (92.7%). These findings suggest that the hybrid capture HPV DNA assay is a useful method for diagnosing HPV infection in the clinic.

Prevalence of human papillomavirus infection in women attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of infection due to human papillomavirus (HPV) types of high and intermediate oncogenic risk, which was most frequently associated with uterine cervical neoplasia. The subjects were 236 prostitutes who visited a sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinic in a metropolitan area in 1998. Another 95 women who visited a university hospital were selected as a normal control group. A swab sample collected from the uterine cervix and external os was subjected to hybrid capture assays for low-oncogenic-risk HPV types (HPV A; including types 6, 11, 42, 43 and 44) and high- and intermediate-oncogenic-risk HPV types (HPV B; including 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59 and 68). Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Fisher's exact test was used for statistical analyses. Among the microorganisms tested, the positive rate for HPV B was the highest both in the women attending the STD clinic (STD group) and in the control group. The positive rate for HPV B in the STD group was 47.5% (112 of 236), and this was significantly higher than the 5.3% (5 of 95) in the control group (p < 0.0001). These findings suggest that HPV examination is recommended for women who visit an STD clinic to assess the future risk of cervical neoplasia.

[Epidemiological study on vancomycin-resistant enterococci from fecal samples in the east area of Japan].

Recently, Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have become important nosocomial pathogens in the world. In Japan, the VRE-infection was first reported in 1996. However, an epidemiological study on VRE has not been aggressively done in Japan. We conducted a survey study to explore the incidence and antimicrobial susceptibility of vancomycin-resistant enterococci isolated from fecal samples at 45 hospitals in the east area of Japan (Kanto, Koshinetsu, Tohoku, and Hokkaido) during June 1998 to March 1999. The Enterococcosel agar containing vanocomycin (BBL) was used for screening VRE from fecal samples in each hospital. The susceptibilities of the isolates to 8 antimicrobials were determined by the broth microdilution method and the definitions of resistance were based on current standards of the NCCLS standards. The VRE genotypes (vanA, vanB, vanC1, and van C2/3) were confirmed by amplifying the respective genes by PCR. Eight hundred and ninety four strains of enterococci were tested by the microtiter plates hybridization method (WAKUNAGA SEIYAKU, Japan). One thousand five hundred eighty three strains of enterococci were collected from 6,914 patients in 45 hospitals. These strains included 72 (4.5%) strains Enterococcus faecalis, 33 (2.1%) strains Enterococcus faecium, 17 (1.1%) strains Enterococcus avium, 1,040 (65.7%) strains Enterococcus gallinarum, 386 (24.4%) strains Enterococcus cassliflavus, and 35 (2.2%) strains Enterococcus flavescens. These strains of vancomycin-resistant E. faecalis were isolated from 3 patients, two of these 3 strains had van A gene and other one had van B gene. Those 3 strains were in the Kanto area, and 2 of 3 strains were in Tokyo, Generally, though van A type VRE was highly resistaant to both vancomycin and teicoplanin. In our study, two strains of van A type E. faecalis were highly resistant to vancomycin (MICs > 128 micrograms/ml) and susceptible to teicoplanin with MICs 4 micrograms/ml. Those two strains were different in susceptibilities of minocycline and ofloxacin. The result of the analysis of PFGE had also different patterns. VanB type E. fecalis was highly resistant to vancomycin and susceptible to teicoplanin (MICs 0.25 microgram/ml). For ampicillin and imipenem, 3 strains of E. faecalis were susceptible (MIC < or = 1 microgram/ml). One of 562 strains of E. gallinarum had vanB and vanC1 genes and was moderately resistant to vancomycin and susceptible to teicoplanin. All strains of E. casseliflavus and E. flavescens had vanC2/C3 gene only. All strains of E. faecium and E. avium did not detect van genes. From this result, it was supposed that VRE were very rare in the east of Japan.

[In vitro activities of faropenem against clarithromycin resistance Helicobacter pylori isolates].

Agar dilution and semi-solid agar dilution were used to determine the MIC of faropenem (FRPM) against 24 H. pylori isolates. FRPM was active against clarithromycin resistance H. pylori isolates. And, the MICs obtained by both methods were in agreement. The results suggest that FRPM was not affected by pH and is a clinically useful oral antibiotic for the eradication therapy of H. pylori infections.

[Susceptibilities of clinical bacterial isolates to antimicrobial agents. A study mainly focused on imipenem. Reported by the Research Group for Testing Imipenem Susceptibility on Clinical Isolates].

This study was conducted to investigate susceptibilities of clinical bacterial isolates to imipenem (IPM) and other antibacterial agents at 64 hospital laboratories throughout Japan from September to December of 1988. In this study, identification and susceptibility testing were carried out at each laboratory and the tests were performed according to the disk dilution method recommended by NCCLS in which susceptibilities are classified into "S", "MS", "I" and "R". IPM showed markedly high in vitro activities against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus agalactiae, Enterococcus faecalis, Haemophilus influenzae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterobacter cloacae, Serratia marcescens, Salmonella spp., Citrobacter freundii, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Morganella morganii, Providencia rettgeri, Providencia stuartii, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis, Alcaligenes spp., Peptococcus spp./Peptostreptococcus spp., Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides spp. IPM also had strong activities against Achromobacter xylosoxidans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but less active against Flavobacterium spp., E. faecium, coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS), Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas cepacia. In a study in which activities of IPM against bacteria isolated from different clinical sources were compared, differences in susceptibilities were observed among S. aureus, CNS, A. calcoaceticus and P. aeruginosa, but such differences were not apparent among S. pneumoniae, E. faecalis, H. influenzae, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, E. cloacae, C. freundii, S. marcescens or P. mirabilis.

[Susceptibilities of clinical bacterial isolates to antimicrobial agents, 1989. A study mainly focused on imipenem. The Research Group for Testing Imipenem Susceptibilities of Clinical Isolates].

We investigated susceptibilities of clinical bacterial isolates to imipenem (IPM) and other antimicrobial agents at hospital laboratories throughout Japan from September to December of 1989. The susceptibility testing was carried out according to the 1-dilution or 3-dilution disc technique in which susceptibilities are classified into 4 grades: (+++), (++), (+) and (-). IPM showed markedly high in vitro activities against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, Citrobacter freundii, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Bacteroides fragilis and had rather strong activities against Enterococcus faecalis, Haemophilus influenzae, Serratia marcescens, Proteus mirabilis, Morganella morganii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Achromobacter xylosoxidans, but was less active to Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci and Xanthomonas maltophilia. IPM has been found to have activities superior to those of other antibiotics tested against E. faecalis, E. cloacae, C. freundii, S. marcescens, P. aeruginosa and B. fragilis. No antibiotics tested showed good activities against MRSA except minocycline.

[Antibacterial activity of aztreonam against clinical isolates].

To evaluate the antibacterial activity of a monobactam antibiotic, aztreonam (AZT), MICs of AZT and other antibiotics against clinical isolates collected at 36 participating institutions after January 1992 were determined using the agar plate dilution method (size of inoculum, 10(6) cfu/ml) according to the Japan Society of Chemotherapy standard. The antibiotics that were tested along with AZT included piperacillin (PIPC), cefoperazone (CPZ), and amikacin (AMK). AZT was found to be more active against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Morganella morganii, and Providencia rettgeri than CPZ, PIPC, and AMK. AZT was also more active against Serratia marcescens than the other antibiotics, but about 6% of the strains tested were resistant to AZT with MIC of 12.5 micrograms/ml. Against Enterobacter cloacae and Citrobacter freundii, however, was more active AMK than AZT. AZT showed a normal activity distribution with a single peak at the MIC of 3.13-6.25 micrograms/ml against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and 35% of inoculum was resistant with high MIC values (MIC > or = 25 micrograms/ml). Activities of AZT against Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria gonorrhoeae were comparable to those of CPZ.

[Nationwide survey on susceptibilities of clinical isolates from urinary tract to antimicrobial agents in Japan, 1991].

This study was conducted to investigate susceptibilities of urinary tract isolates to antimicrobial agents examined at 123 hospital laboratories in Japan from September to December in 1991. In this study, identification and susceptibility testing were carried out at each laboratory. The susceptibility testing was performed according to the disk diffusion method recommended by National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. MRSA showed high resistance rates to all agents tested except to minocycline (MINO). MSSA had good susceptibility to imipenem (IPM) and cephalosporins with susceptibility rates higher than 90%. Enterococcus faecalis was susceptible to IPM, ampicillin and piperacillin (PIPC) and highly resistant to cephalosporins, gentamicin (GM), erythromycin, clindamycin and MINO. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis were susceptible to beta-lactam drugs, GM and ofloxacin (OFLX). High susceptibility rates were observed for strains of Enterobacter cloacae, Citrobacter freundii to IPM, GM, and OFLX and of Serratia marcescens for IPM and GM. Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were highly susceptible to IPM, ceftazidime, AMK, cefsulodin, cefoperazone, PIPC in this order.

[A nationwide survey of antimicrobial susceptibilities of clinical isolates to antibiotics in Japan (1988-1990)].

This study was conducted to investigate susceptibilities of clinical isolates to antibacterial agents at 149 hospitals throughout Japan from September to December in both 1989 and 1990. In this study, identifications and susceptibility testings were carried out at each hospital laboratory. The susceptibility testings were performed according to the disk diffusion method recommended by NCCLS. Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci showed high or moderate resistance rates to beta-lactam antibiotics, but Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus pneumoniae were highly susceptible to them. Enterococcus faecalis was susceptible to imipenem (IPM) and piperacillin but resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics and aminoglycosides. Haemophilus influenzae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis were susceptible to beta-lactam drugs and aminoglycosides. Enterobacter cloacae, Serratia marcescens, Proteus vulgaris, Morganella morganii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa had a good susceptibility to IPM and aminoglycosides. Bacteroides fragilis was highly susceptible to IPM. IPM had strong antibacterial activity to many species of clinical isolates, including strains which were resistant to commonly used antibiotics.

[In vitro antimicrobial activity of carbapenem antibiotics against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, measured using a low-concentration Mueller-Hinton Agar culture medium].

Ohya et al. noted that the antibacterial activity of carbapenem-family antibiotics against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was significantly enhanced through lowering the basic amino acid concentration in the culture medium. They reported that there was a marked difference in antimicrobial activity of panipenem (PAPM) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa between the culture medium with Mueller-Hinton Agar (MHA) diluted with distilled water and the non-diluted culture medium. We used 2,312 strains of fresh Pseudomonas aeruginosa, isolated from clinical materials, to examine the antibacterial activity of PAPM in non-diluted and diluted culture media. For testing the susceptibility, we employed the Showa disc method and agar plate dilution method. In the Showa disc method, the inhibition diameters of the tested microbial strains showed a larger distribution for both 16-fold and 40-fold diluted MHA, compared to the non-diluted MHA. The MIC values in the agar plate dilution method were also smaller in distribution for the 16-fold as well as the 40-fold diluted MHA, compared to the non-diluted culture media. Approximately 90% of the strains showed decreased MIC values, 2-8 times in the 16-fold diluted MHA and 2-16 times in the 40-fold diluted MHA. From the above results, we confirmed that the in vitro antibacterial activity of PAPM against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was enhanced through lowering the MHA concentration.

[Susceptibilities of clinical bacterial isolates to antimicrobial agents. A study mainly focused on imipenem. Research Group for Testing Imipenem Susceptibility on Clinical Isolates].

We investigated susceptibilities of clinical bacterial isolates to imipenem (IPM) and other antimicrobial agents at 459 hospital laboratories throughout Japan from September to December of 1988. In this study, identification and susceptibility testing were performed at each hospital laboratory and the tests were carried out according to the 1-dilution or 3-dilution disc technique in which susceptibilities are classified into 4 grades: , ++, + and -. IPM had significantly high activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus agalactiae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterobacter cloacae, Salmonella spp., Citrobacter freundii, Proteus mirabilis, Providencia rettgeri, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Moraxella catarrhalis, Alcaligenes spp., Peptococcus spp./Peptostreptococcus spp., Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides spp. and should slightly lower activities on coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS), Enterococcus faecalis, Haemophilus influenzae, Serratia marcescens, Proteus vulgaris, Providencia stuartii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa than on the above mentioned bacteria. In a comparative study on activities of IPM against bacteria from different clinical sources, no remarkable differences were found due to different sources among S. pneumoniae, E. faecalis, H. influenzae, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, E. cloacae, C. freundii, P. mirabilis or A. calcoaceticus, whereas slight differences were found among Staphylococcus aureus, CNS, S. marcescens and P. aeruginosa.

[Nationwide survey on susceptibilities of clinical isolates to antibacterial agents in 1991].

This study was conducted to investigate susceptibilities of clinical isolates to different antibacterial agents at 123 hospital laboratories throughout Japan from September to December of 1991. In this study, identifications and susceptibility testings were carried out at each hospital laboratory. The susceptibility testing were performed using the disk dilution method recommended by NCCLS. Staphylococcus aureus and CNS showed high or moderate resistance rates to methicillin (DMPPC). Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Proteus mirabilis were highly susceptible to many agents including beta-lactam antibiotics. Though Enterococcus faecalis was highly susceptible to ampicillin (ABPC), piperacillin (PIPC), imipenem (IPM), sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (ST) compounds, Enterococcus faecium was resistant to almost all antibacterial agents but to ST compounds. High susceptibility rates were observed for strains of Enterobacter cloacae to IPM, gentamicin (GM) and ofloxacin (OFLX) and for strains of Proteus vulgaris to latamoxef (LMOX), IPM, aztreonam (AZT), GM and OFLX. Serratia marcescens and Bacteroides fragilis group were highly susceptible only to IPM. Pseudomonas aeruginosa were sensitive to ceftazidime (CAZ), IPM, amikacin (AMK) and tobramycin (TOB). Pseudomonas cepacia was relatively susceptible only to CAZ. IPM showed strong antibacterial activity to many species except for S. aureus and CNS.

[Nationwide survey of susceptibilities of clinical isolates to antibacterial agents in 1992].

This study was conducted to investigate susceptibilities of clinical isolates to imipenem (IPM) and other antibacterial agents in 144 hospital laboratories throughout Japan from September to December of 1992. In this study, the isolates were identified and susceptibility tests were performed at individual laboratories. The susceptibility tests were performed using the disk dilution method recommended by NCCLS. S. aureus (including MRSA) strains were highly susceptible to arbekacin (ABK) and netilmicin (NTL). S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae were susceptible to most of the agents tested. E. faecalis were highly susceptible to penicillins and imipenem (IPM). P. aeruginosa showed high susceptibility to ceftazidime (CAZ), IPM and amikacin (AMK). Annual changes in antimicrobial susceptibility patterns over 5 years (1988-1992) were examined. The frequency of sensitive strains of S. aureus to methicillin (DMPPC) has slightly increased from 1991 to 1992. A moderate increases of PCG-insensitive S. pneumoniae was observed. B. fragilis group showed a slight increase in sensitivity to minocycline (MINO) but no yearly changes in IPM sensitivity was observed.