Affinity of ceftaroline and other beta-lactams for penicillin-binding proteins from Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

We compared the affinities of ceftaroline for all penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) with those of ceftriaxone and cefotaxime in 6 Staphylococcus aureus and 7 Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates with various resistance phenotypes. Ceftaroline MICs were PBP1A, -1B, and -2A > PBP2B, and ceftaroline had >or=4-fold higher 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC(50)s) (0.1 to 4 microg/ml) for PBP2X, -2A, -2B, and -3 than those for the other cephalosporins tested. Among 3 penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae strains, ceftaroline had a high affinity for PBP2X (IC(50), 0.1 to 1 microg/ml), a primary target for cephalosporin PBP binding activity, and high affinities for PBP2B (IC(50), 0.5 to 4 microg/ml) and PBP1A (IC(50), 0.125 to 0.25 microg/ml) as well, both of which are also known as major targets for PBP binding activity of cephalosporins. Ceftaroline PBP affinities in methicillin-susceptible S. aureus strains were greater than or equal to those of the 3 other beta-lactams tested. Ceftaroline bound to PBP2a in methicillin-resistant S. aureus (IC(50), 0.01 to 1 microg/ml) with up to 256-fold-higher affinity than those of other agents. Ceftaroline demonstrated very good PBP affinity against all S. aureus and S. pneumoniae strains tested, including resistant isolates.

Postantibiotic effect of ceftaroline against gram-positive organisms.

The postantibiotic effects (PAEs), postantibiotic sub-MIC effects (PA-SMEs), and sub-MIC effects (SMEs) of ceftaroline, a novel injectable cephalosporin, were determined for 15 gram-positive organisms. The pneumococcal, staphylococcal, and enterococcal PAEs were 0.8 to 1.8 h, 0.7 to 2.2 h, and 0.2 to 1.1 h, respectively. The corresponding PA-SMEs (0.4 times the MIC) were 2.5 to 6.7 h, 2.9 to >0.0 h, and 7.9 to >10.3 h, respectively. The PA-SMEs were longer than the PAEs, suggesting that sub-MIC levels extend the PAE of ceftaroline against gram-positive cocci.

Postantibiotic effects of telavancin against 16 gram-positive organisms.

The in vitro postantibiotic effects (PAEs), postantibiotic sub-MIC effects (PA-SMEs), and sub-MIC effects of telavancin were determined for 16 gram-positive organisms. Telavancin staphylococcal, streptococcal, and enterococcal PAE ranges were 0.9 to 3.9 h, 0.4 to 6.7 h, and 0.3 to 2.2 h, respectively. The PA-SME ranges (0.4 times the MIC) for staphylococci, streptococci, and enterococci were 6.7 to >10.7 h, >10.7 to >11.0 h, and >10 to >10.8 h, respectively. The extended PAE of telavancin, together with its long elimination half-life in humans, supports once-daily dosing for this investigational drug.

Postantibiotic effect of tigecycline against 14 gram-positive organisms.

The in vitro postantibiotic effects (PAEs), postantibiotic sub-MIC effects (PA-SMEs), and sub-MIC effects of tigecycline were determined for 14 gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. The pneumococcal, staphylococcal, and enterococcal PAEs were 1.9 to 5.1, 2.9 to 5.7, and 3.9 to 6.1 h, respectively, and those for Haemophilus influenzae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, and Acinetobacter baumannii were 1.1 to 5.0, 1.9 to 2.1, 1.7 to 1.8, 1.0 to 1.7, and 0.7 to 3 h, respectively. The PA-SMEs (four times the MIC) ranged from 6.7 to >11 h for gram-positive organisms and from 2.3 to >11.3 h for gram-negative organisms.

MRSA--the tip of the iceberg.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains cause serious nosocomial infections all over the world. Overall, approximately 20% of S. aureus isolates in Europe are reported as methicillin-resistant, whereas in US hospitals the prevalence ranges from 33% to 55%. The past few years have also witnessed an increase in life-threatening community-acquired infections caused by Panton-Valentine leukocidin-producing MRSA in the USA. Increasing use of glycopeptides for treatment of community-acquired MRSA infections may result in higher rates of glycopeptide resistance. Since 1996, five vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA; vancomycin MIC = 8-16 mg/L) strains have been identified in Europe, Asia and the USA, and vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA) strains (vancomycin MIC > or = 32 mg/L) have also been reported in the USA between 2002 and 2005. Most infections with VISA and VRSA have occurred in a setting of heavy prior use of glycopeptides and other antimicrobial agents. Emergence of reduced vancomycin susceptibility in S. aureus increases the possibility that currently available antimicrobial agents may become ineffective for treating systemic infections, especially bacteraemia, endocarditis and osteomyelitis. Ceftobiprole is a novel broad-spectrum cephalosporin with expanded activity against Gram-positive bacteria, including MRSA. Ceftobiprole is refractory to the development of endogenous resistance both in vitro and in vivo. The additional activity of ceftobiprole against MRSA strains makes it a potentially important addition to currently available agents.

The emergence of vancomycin-intermediate and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is well-recognised as a major cause of infection in the health care setting but, even more worryingly, is now emerging in the community. The glycopeptides-notably vancomycin-have traditionally been the mainstay of treatment of MRSA but overuse has led to the emergence of vancomycin-intermediate and vancomycin-resistant MRSA (VISA and VRSA, respectively). Although the mechanisms underlying vancomycin resistance are not yet fully understood, changes to the bacterial cell wall-the site of action of the glycopeptides-are believed to be key. Recent evidence also supports the transfer of genetic material among bacteria as contributing to the development of VRSA. Based on the cases identified to date, risk factors for the development of VRSA may include older age, compromised blood flow to the lower limbs, and the presence of chronic ulcers. The true extent of the problem, however, remains to be determined-it is likely that many cases of VISA and VRSA infection go undetected because of suboptimal screening programmes and possible limitations of automated and non-automated detection methods. Effective screening directed at those patients considered to be most at risk should therefore be a priority. Not surprisingly, the spread of MRSA from the hospital to the community setting, coupled with the emergence of VISA and VRSA, has become a major cause of concern among clinicians and microbiologists. The treatment options available for these infections are now severely compromised and thus new classes of antimicrobial agents effective against MRSA, VISA and VRSA are urgently required.

Antimicrobial resistance of nasopharyngeal pneumococci from children from day-care centres and orphanages in Russia: results of a unique prospective multicentre study.

This study assessed the antimicrobial resistance of nasopharyngeal pneumococci isolated from children aged < 5 years in day-care centres and orphanages throughout Russia during 2001-2002. Swabs were collected from 2484 children in 43 day-care centres and eight orphanages in 11 cities of European Russia, and from 1669 children in 37 day-care centres and three orphanages in eight cities of Asian Russia, with a total of 1144 and 912 Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates being recovered in European and Asian Russia, respectively. All macrolide-non-susceptible (MICs 0.5-128 mg/L) and fluoroquinolone-non-susceptible (ciprofloxacin MICs > or = 4 mg/L) isolates were tested for resistance mechanisms and clonal relatedness. Non-susceptibility rates, by CLSI criteria, were 19.3%, 0.9% and 0.4% for penicillin G, cefotaxime and amoxycillin-clavulanate, respectively. Resistance to macrolides and lincosamides was also relatively low, i.e., < 7% for clindamycin and 14- and 15-membered macrolides. The highest rates of non-susceptibility were for tetracycline and co-trimoxazole (52.0% and 64.5%, respectively). No clones resistant to ciprofloxacin (MICs > or = 8 mg/L) were found, but 1.7% of isolates were non-susceptible (MIC 4 mg/L). No resistance was found to levofloxacin, gemifloxacin, telithromycin or vancomycin. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis showed no relationship between ciprofloxacin- and macrolide-non-susceptible isolates in European and Asian Russia. Resistance among macrolide-resistant isolates resulted mostly from the presence of erm(B) and mef(A), and from changes in L4; additionally, L22 mutations were common in isolates from Asian Russia. Non-susceptibility to quinolones was associated with mutations in parC and parE among European isolates. Asian Russian isolates had mutations in parC and gyrA, and alterations in parE were more common. There were substantial differences in non-susceptibility and mechanisms of resistance between pneumococci from Asian and European Russia, with orphanages appearing to be 'hot-spots' of resistance.

Activity of five quinolones, three macrolides and telithromycin against 12 Haemophilus influenzae strains with different resistance phenotypes.

Gemifloxacin MICs for 12 Haemophilus influenzae strains with different resistance phenotypes were 0.001-0.015 mg/L. Gemifloxacin was bactericidal against all 12 strains after 24 h at 2 x MIC. Ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin had MICs of 0.008-0.03 mg/L and similar kill kinetics. Macrolides and telithromycin had unimodal MICs (1.0-8.0 mg/L), except for two strains without efflux systems (0.0125-0.5 mg/L) and two with efflux systems and ribosomal protein mutations (> 64.0 mg/L), and were bactericidal against eight to ten strains tested at 2 x MIC after 24 h.

Activity of the new quinolone WCK 771 against pneumococci.

The activity of WCK 771, a new experimental quinolone being developed to overcome quinolone resistance in staphylococci, against quinolone-susceptible and -resistant pneumococci was determined. Comparative activities of ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, gatifloxacin, moxifloxacin, clinafloxacin, vancomycin, linezolid, amoxycillin, cefuroxime, azithromycin and clarithromycin were determined with MIC and time-kill experiments. Animal experiments were also performed to test the in-vivo anti-pneumococcal activity of WCK 771 compared to levofloxacin. WCK 771 MIC50/90 values for 300 quinolone-susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates (108 penicillin-susceptible, 92 penicillin-intermediate and 100 penicillin-resistant) were 0.5/0.5 mg/L; the MICs of beta-lactams and macrolides rose with those of penicillin G, and all isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and linezolid. WCK 771 MIC50/90 values for 25 quinolone-resistant pneumococcal isolates were 4/8 mg/L, compared to 0.5/1 mg/L for clinafloxacin, 2/4 mg/L for gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin, 8/16 mg/L for levofloxacin, and 16/>32 mg/L for ciprofloxacin. Time-kill studies showed that WCK 771 was bactericidal against pneumococci after 24 h at 4 x MIC, as were the other quinolones tested. Animal model studies showed that WCK 771 had efficacy comparable to that of levofloxacin, by both the oral and subcutaneous routes, for systemic infection caused by three quinolone-susceptible isolates of pneumococci. Overall, WCK 771 was potent both in vivo and in vitro against quinolone-susceptible, but not quinolone-resistant, S. pneumoniae, regardless of penicillin susceptibility.

Infections due to penicillin-resistant pneumococci. Clinical, epidemiologic, and microbiologic features.

Pneumococcal infection remains a common cause of serious morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Until recently, clinical isolates of pneumococci that were penicillin resistant were rare. However, 4% to 5% of the clinical isolates in the United States were recently found to be either intermediately resistant or highly resistant to penicillin. Clinicians in every field of medicine must therefore be better informed regarding penicillin-resistant pneumococcal infections to minimize their attendant morbidity and mortality and increase compliance with preventive measures. We reviewed the molecular, genetic, and epidemiologic aspects of penicillin-resistant pneumococcal infections, with emphasis on their microbiologic and clinical features.

Intra-abdominal abscess and fungemia caused by candida krusei.

A 73-year-old man with chronic lymphocytic leukemia experienced an intra-abdominal abscess caused by Candida krusei. Treatment with drainage alone led to dissemination of the infection and resultant C krusei fungemia. The fungemia responded to therapy with amphotericin B, but the patient died of multisystem failure. We stress the rarity of intra-abdominal infection and fungemia with this organism and the necessity for treatment of candidal intra-abdominal infection with antifungal agents. X

Mechanisms and frequency of resistance to temafloxacin.

The bactericidal activity of temafloxacin and other fluoroquinolones is attributed to inhibition of bacterial DNA gyrase (topoisomerase II), an enzyme that regulates supercoiling and uncoiling of DNA. Because of this unique bactericidal mechanism of action, resistance to fluoroquinolones is limited to spontaneous mutations. In vitro studies were conducted to determine the frequency at which spontaneous resistance to temafloxacin occurs and to determine whether cross-resistance to other antimicrobial agents develops. In 13 strains of bacteria, the frequency of spontaneous resistance mutation to concentrations of temafloxacin at four and eight times the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranged from less than 1 x 10(-10) to 1.4 x 10(-7). Temafloxacin demonstrated a lower frequency of resistance to both methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus compared with ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin. Cross resistance with other fluoroquinolones was observed.

Emerging resistance to antimicrobial agents in gram-positive bacteria. Pneumococci.

The prevalence of penicillin-resistant pneumococci is increasing worldwide. Methods for susceptibility testing, as well as in vitro susceptibility of penicillin-susceptible and -resistant strains to new and existing agents (including oral and parenteral streptogramins), are described. For all specimens except CSF, oxacillin screening followed by determination of penicillin minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) is satisfactory. For CSF, simultaneous testing of penicillin and cefotaxime or ceftriaxone by E-test is necessary. Of all available oral beta-lactams, amoxicillin yields the lowest MICs against penicillin-susceptible and -resistant pneumococci, and is the drug of choice for the treatment of otitis media. Cefotaxime and ceftriaxone yield MICs that are low enough to permit therapy of meningitic and nonmeningitic infections (the former in combination with vancomycin). The higher the strain's benzylpenicillin (penicillin G) MIC, the more likely it is that simultaneous resistance to nonrelated compounds such as tetracyclines, macrolides, and cotrimoxazole (trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole) will occur. None of the available quinolones should be used for therapy of pneumococcal infections. Of new and experimental drugs, some of the new quinolones, trovafloxacin, and oral and parenteral streptogramins are promising agents. Imipenem is epileptogenic, but meropenem has potential in the therapy of meningitis. Problematical infections caused by penicillin-resistant pneumococci include meningitis and otitis media. The optimal therapy of the latter two diseases has not yet been clearly delineated.

Quinolone activity against anaerobes: microbiological aspects.

Currently available quinolones are either inactive or marginally active against anaerobic bacteria. This review summarises the in vitro activity of currently available as well as experimental quinolones against clinically significant anaerobic bacteria. Quinolones with low activity against anaerobes include ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, levofloxacin, fleroxacin, pefloxacin, enoxacin, lomefloxacin and probably E 4868 and NM 441. Compounds with intermediate anaerobe activity include sparfloxacin, grepafloxacin, PD 131628 and AM 1155. Quinolones that are very active against anaerobes include clinafloxacin and DU 6859a. CP 99,219, a naphthyridone, is also very active against anaerobes. Toxicity problems have necessitated the withdrawal of some quinolones shown to have intermediate activity (temafloxacin and tosufloxacin) and the discontinuation of the development of some investigational agents (Win 57273 and BAY Y 3118) with high activity. Conclusions regarding the therapeutic value of quinolones against human anaerobic infections await further clinical toxicological and pharmacokinetic studies.

Quinolone activity against anaerobes.

The first generation of fluoroquinolones such as ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin are inactive against most anaerobic bacteria. However, some broad-spectrum quinolones, which have recently become clinically available or are under active development, have significant antianaerobic activity. This review summarises the in vitro activity of currently available, as well as experimental, quinolones against clinically significant anaerobic bacteria. Quinolones with low activity against anaerobes include ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, levofloxacin, fleroxacin, pefloxacin, enoxacin and lomefloxacin. Compounds with intermediate antianaerobic activity include sparfloxacin and grepafloxacin. Trovafloxacin, gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin yield low MICs against most groups of anaerobes. Quinolones with the greatest in vitro activity against anaerobes include clinafloxacin and sitafloxacin (DU-6859a).

Agar medium for gas-liquid chromatography of anaerobes.

This study evaluates a method of performing gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) by direct extraction of fatty acids from agar for identification of clinically significant anaerobic bacteria. The potential use of agar cultures for GLC was studied by comparing chromatograms of 117 clinically isolated anaerobes grown in peptone yeast glucose broth and chopped meat carbohydrate broth, and on enriched brucella blood agar. For 98 of 117 anaerobes, fatty acid patterns from agar cultures were similar to those in broth. Significant differences were only found with Streptococcus intermedius, Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium tertium, and Actinomyces species, which produced less of certain fatty acids on agar than in broth. Results of this study indicate that GLC of short chain fatty acids produced on agar medium by anaerobes, combined with simple tests such as Gram's stain and colonial morphology, may allow fir direct presumptive genus identification from an initial pure agar culture.

Meningitis caused by Streptococcus dysgalactiae in a preterm infant.

This report describes a case of meningitis caused by a Lancefield group C streptococcus (Streptococcus dysgalactiae) in a 9-week-old infant. Bacteria of this group rarely cause serious infections in man. The organism was identified as a member of Lancefield group C by the acid extraction method and as S. dysgalactiae by biochemical tests. The patient's condition responded well to penicillin and tobramycin therapy, with no obvious neurologic sequelae.

Comparison of two methods for same-day identification of Enterobacteriaceae.

Two commercial methods, API 20E (as modified for same-day enterobacterial identification) and Micro-ID, were evaluated for ability to provide useful same-day information of 368 clinically isolated Enterobacteriaceae. Organisms included Escherichia coli (54), Shigella (7), Edwardsiella tarda (1), Salmonella enteritidis (10), Citrobacter (30), Klebsiella (55), Enterobacter (68), Hafnia alvei (2), Serratia (33), Proteus (64), Morganella morganii (24), Providencia (18), and Yersinia enterocolitica (2). Methods were those of manufacturers without supplemental tests. API at five hours identified 78.5% of strains to species, 9.5% to genus only, 10.1% as part of a spectrum of identifications (SI), and 1.9% incorrect. Micro-ID at four hours yielded 90.0% correct identification to species and 3.3% to genus only, 4.0% SI, and 2.7% incorrect. API identification of many Serratia, Citrobacter, Providencia strains was to genus only; most incorrect results occurred in Serratia marcescens. Micro-ID identified most organisms to species; incorrect identifications were mainly S. marcescens and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Both systems provided excellent identification of E. coli. Both methods sacrifice a degree of accuracy that varies with the species tested, as compared to overnight systems, but both provide rapid information of potential clinical value.

New prospects for antibacterial agents against multidrug-resistant pneumococci.

Since the first description of penicillin-resistant pneumococci nearly 30 years ago, drug-resistance has become widespread throughout the world. This review focuses upon the in vitro susceptibility of penicillin-susceptible and -resistant pneumococci to new and existing agents.

Placental microbiology and histology and the pathogenesis of chorioamnionitis.

The present study was undertaken to determine the proportion of cases of chorioamnionitis that was caused by microbiologic agents. Seventy-five placentas were processed to isolate aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and chlamydia. Results were correlated with the presence or absence of histologic and clinical chorioamnionitis. Bacteria were recovered from 72% (18 of 25) of placentas with histologic chorioamnionitis and from nine of 11 cases (82%) of clinical chorioamnionitis, all of which had histologic chorioamnionitis. Bacteria were recovered from only 15% (six of 39) of placentas without histologic chorioamnionitis. Nearly 50% of the bacteria recovered from placentas were anaerobes, often fastidious in their growth requirements. Often two to three such anaerobes were recovered from a placenta. Findings of the present study increase the possibility that bacteria are responsible for most cases of chorioamnionitis.