[Ciprofloxacin resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae according to sexual habits]. / Resistencia de Neisseria gonorrhoeae a ciprofloxacina según hábitos sexuales.

The first isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae resistant to fluoroquinolones in Argentina were reported in 2000. Since January 2005 to June 2007 Neisseria gonorrhoeae was studied in 595 men who have sex with men (MSM) and 571 heterosexual men. The gonorrhea prevalence in MSM and heterosexual men was 0.091(91/1000) and the Neisseria gonorrhoeae ciprofloxacin resistant (CRNG) was 20% in MSM and 3.8% in heterosexual men (p: 0.0416). Thirteen out of 106 isolates from 11 MSM and 2 heterosexual men were CRNG. Six out of eleven MSM had urethritis, one also carried Neisseria gonorrhoeae in rectum and 5 patients were asymptomatic carriers (rectum 2, pharynx 2, urethra 1). No epidemiological relation was found among the patients. Two heterosexual men had urethritis. The 8 symptomatic men were treated with ciprofloxacin but treatment failed in all of them. These patients and the asymptomatic ones were treated with ceftriaxone, 500 mg IM. The post treatment microbiological controls were negative. The CRNG isolates had ciprofloxacin MIC between 2 and 32 (microg/ml), all were negative to penicillinase, 4 out of 13 were chromosomally resistant to penicillin (MIC: 1 microg/ml). The MICs (microg/ml) ranges for several antimicrobial agents were: penicillin: 0.016-1; tetracycline: 0.125-2; ceftriaxone: 0.004-0.008; erythromycin: 0.032-2; azithromycin: 0.032-0.5; spectinomycin: 8-32. Due to the high level of ciprofloxacin-resistant N. gonorrhoeae isolated from MSM in our hospital, another antimicrobial agent for empirical therapy should be used in these patients.

Genetic and phenotypic characterization of resistance to macrolides in Streptococcus pyogenes from Argentina.

Five hundred and seventy-eight strains of group A streptococci (GAS) isolated mostly from paediatric pharyngeal swabs were tested to evaluate their susceptibility to erythromycin. Resistant strains were then tested for their MICs to erythromycin and clindamycin, their phenotype of resistance to macrolides-lincosamides-streptogramin (MLS(B)) and for the presence of macrolide resistance genes. The rate of resistance to erythromycin was 8.2%. Constitutive, inducible and M phenotypes of resistance were detected in 2.1, 2.1 and 95.8% of resistant strains, respectively. All M phenotypes harboured the mefA gene, whereas constitutive and inducible phenotypes had ermB and ermTR genes, respectively.

[Bacterial resistance to antibiotics in gram-negative rods isolated from intensive care units. Comparative analysis between two periods (1998 and 2001)]. / Resistencia a antibióticos de bacilos gram negativos aislados en unidades de cuidados intensivos. Analisis comparativo de dos periodos (1992-2001).

The incidence and drug susceptibility of gram-negative isolates from clinical samples of patients from different intensive care units at the Hospital de Clinicas José de San Martín were analysed. Two hundred isolates during the same five months period, in two different years (1998 and 2001) were obtained and evaluated. Acinetobacter spp., was the most frequently isolated microorganism. Resistance to imipenem was observed in 60% of these isolations while resistance to 3rd generation cephalosporin and ciprofloxacin was observed in more than 80%. Klebsiella pneumoniae was not resistant to imipenem, the resistance to 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins decreased from 71.4 to 30% of isolates (p < 0.05), while ciprofloxacin resistance increased from 5 to 20% (p < 0.05). An increasing resistance to imipenem in Pseudomonas aeruginosa was noted, from 15.4 to 68% (p < 0.05%); to ciprofloxacin, from 31.4 to 66.3% (p < 0.05); to amikacin, from 23 to 60.1% (p < 0.05); and to ceftazidime, from 8.2 to 28.3% (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the alarming rates of resistance found in this study provide compelling evidence of the need for more rational use of antimicrobial agents; ongoing surveillance on the etiology of infections and their resistance profiles is important to guide future antimicrobial chemotherapy.

[Pneumonia due to Legionella pneumophila. Experience gathered in a University Hospital in Buenos Aires]. / Neumonia por Legionella pneumophila. Experiencia en un Hospital Universitario de Buenos Aires.

Legionnaires' disease is a well recognized cause of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) all around the world. In Latin America its incidence remains unknown. This study analyzed a cohort of 9 patients with CAP due to Legionella pneumophila observed from 1997 to 2001, in the Hospital de Clínicas José de San Martin, University of Buenos Aires. Clinical history included recent illnesses, work exposure, physical exam, prior antibiotic use and severity of illness criteria. None of the 9 patients had a history of recent travels, and 4 of them required admission in intensive care unit (ICU). Seven patients had a cigarette smoking history, four of them also had COPD, and one patient had a non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This study confirms the low specificity of clinical and general laboratory criteria to predict this etiology. Legionella isolation is difficult, and serological testing allows retrospective diagnosis but takes several weeks, while urinary antigen test gives a bed-side diagnosis. When Legionella appears in isolated cases, as happens in Argentina, it should be necessary to have a high index of suspicion to successfully arrive at an etiological diagnosis. Legionella pneumophila is a pathogen causing CAP in our area. A surveillance should be established preferably focused on selected populations including severe CAP, immunocompromised hosts and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Evaluación de la actividad de diferentes antimicrobianos frente a Streptococcus pneumoniae provenientes de pacientes adultos con neumonía adquirida en la comunidad / Evaluation of different antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae from adults with community-acquired pneumonia

Streptococcus pneumoniae es el principal agente etiológico bacteriano de infecciones del tracto respiratorio y en los últimos años hemos asistido a la emergencia de aislamientos con múltiples resistencias. Durante los años 2008 y 2009 se estudiaron 59 aislamientos de S. pneumoniae provenientes de hemocultivos y materiales respiratorios, de pacientes con neumonía, a los cuales se les determinó la susceptibilidad a diferentes antimicrobianos. No se observó resistencia a penicilina por vía parenteral (endovenosa), amoxicilina,ceftriaxona ni carbapenemes. La resistencia a cefuroxima oral y parenteral fue 3.4% y 5.1% respectivamente. El 15.2% de los aislamientos presentó sensibilidad intermedia a la penicilina por vía oral con CIM entre 0.125 y 1 μg/ml. Sólo 1/59 aislamientos fue resistente a levofloxacina (CIM= 8 μg/ml) y sensible a gatifloxacina (CIM= 0,5 μg/ml).La resistencia a eritromicina fue 20.3% y el fenotipo predominante fue el M (eflujo) confirmado por la presencia del gen mef. La resistencia a tetraciclina fue 6.8% y no se observó resistencia a tigeciclina (CIM90= 0.5 μg/ml). Todos los aislamientos fueron sensibles a vancomicina, linezolid y rifampicina, mientras que el 21.4% presentó resistencia a trimetoprima-sulfametoxazol. En conclusión, penicilina parenteral (intravenosa) y amoxicilina, independientemente de la vía de administración, continúan siendo losantimicrobianos β-lactámicos más adecuados para el tratamiento empírico de las neumonías, mientras que los macrólidos deberían utilizarse con precaución por el alto porcentaje de resistencia. Aunque la resistencia a levofloxacina continúa baja, consideramos que deberían utilizarse en situaciones que lo ameriten y en las dosis adecuadas para prevenir la selección de mutantes resistentes.

Steptococcus pneumoniae is the main etiologic bacterial agent of respiratory tract infections and in recent years emergence of isolates with multiple resistance has been observed.During the years 2008 and 2009 we studied 59 S. pneumoniae strains isolated from blood cultures and respiratory materials from patients with pneumonia and tested theirsusceptibility to different antimicrobials. There was no resistance to parenteral penicillin (intravenous), amoxicillin, ceftriaxone and carbapenems. To oral and parenteral cefuroxime the resistance was 3.4% and 5.1% respectively; 15.2% of the isolates showed intermediate susceptibility to oral penicillin with MICs between 0.125 and 1 μg/ml. Only 1/59 isolates was resistant to levofloxacin (MIC = 8 μg/ml) but it was susceptible to gatifloxacin (MIC = 0.5 μg/ml). Erythromycin resistance was 20.3% and the predominant phenotype was M(efflux) confirmed by the presence of the mef gene. Tetracycline resistance was 6.8% and there was no resistance to tigecycline (CIM90 = 0.5 μg/ml). All isolates were susceptible to vancomycin, linezolid and rifampicin. The resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was 21.4%. In conclusion, parenteral (intravenous) penicillin and amoxicillin, independentlyof the way of administration, remain the antimicrobial β-lactams most suitablefor the empirical treatment of pneumonia, while macrolides should be used with caution because of the high proportion of resistance. Although levofloxacin resistance remainslow, we consider it should only be used in special situations and in adequate doses in order to prevent the selection of resistant mutants.

Resistencia de Neisseria gonorrhoeae a ciprofloxacina según hábitos sexuales / Ciprofloxacin resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae according to sexual habits

En la Argentina los primeros hallazgos de Neisseria gonorrhoeae resistentes a las fluorquinolonas se documentaron en el año 2000. Desde enero de 2005 hasta junio de 2007, se evaluaron 595 hombres que tienen sexo con hombres (HSH) y 571 varones heterosexuales para investigar la presencia de N. gonorrhoeae y la resistencia a los antimicrobianos. La prevalencia de gonorrea en HSH y varones heterosexuales fue 0.091(91/1000) en ambos grupos y el % de N. gonorrhoeae resistente a ciprofloxacina (NGRC) fue 20.0% y 3.8% respectivamente (p: 0.0416). Trece de 106 aislamientos fueron NGRC, correspondieron a 11 HSH y 2 varones heterosexuales. Seis HSH presentaron uretritis, uno de ellos con localización simultánea en recto y cinco pacientes fueron asintomáticos (recto, 2; faringe, 2; uretra, 1). No se pudo demostrar relación epidemiológica entre ellos. Dos varones heterosexuales presentaron uretritis. Los 8 pacientes sintomáticos fueron tratados empíricamente con ciprofloxacina y se documentó fracaso de tratamiento. Estos y los portadores de NGRC recibieron tratamiento con 500 mg de ceftriaxona IM. Los controles postratamiento demostraron la erradicación del microorganismo. Los aislamientos de NGRC presentaron CIM de ciprofloxacina entre 2 y 32 µg/ml, todos fueron beta-lactamasa negativos, 4/13 presentaron resistencia cromosómica a penicilina (CIM= 1 µg/ml), y los rangos de CIM (µg/ml) para los siguientes antibióticos fueron: penicilina: 0.016-1; tetraciclina: 0.125-2; ceftriaxona: 0.004-0.008; eritromicina: 0.032-2; azitromicina: 0.032-0.5; espectinomicina: 8-32. Dado el elevado porcentaje de aislamientos de NGRC en HSH en nuestro hospital, debería utilizarse otro antimicrobiano para el tratamiento empírico en estos pacientes.

The first isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae resistant to fluorquinolones in Argentina were reported in 2000. Since January 2005 to June 2007 Neisseria gonorrhoeae was studied in 595 men who have sex with men (MSM) and 571 heterosexual men. The gonorrhea prevalence in MSM and heterosexual men was 0.091(91/1000) and the Neisseria gonorrhoeae ciprofloxacin resistant (CRNG) was 20% in MSM and 3.8% in heterosexual men (p: 0.0416). Thirteen out of 106 isolates from 11 MSM and 2 heterosexual men were CRNG. Six out of eleven MSM had urethritis, one also carried Neisseria gonorrhoeae in rectum and 5 patients were asymptomatic carriers (rectum 2, pharynx 2, urethra 1). No epidemiological relation was found among the patients. Two heterosexual men had urethritis. The 8 symptomatic men were treated with ciprofloxacin but treatment failed in all of them. These patients and the asymptomatic ones were treated with ceftriaxone, 500 mg IM. The post treatment microbiological controls were negative. The CRNG isolates had ciprofloxacin MIC between 2 and 32 (µg/ml), all were negative to penicillinase, 4 out of 13 were chromosomally resistant to penicillin (MIC: 1 µg/ml). The MICs (µg/ml) ranges for several antimicrobial agents were: penicillin: 0.016-1; tetracycline: 0.125-2; ceftriaxone: 0.004-0.008; erythromycin: 0.032-2; azithromycin: 0.032-0.5; spectinomycin: 8-32. Due to the high level of ciprofloxacin-resistant N. gonorrhoeae isolated from MSM in our hospital, another antimicrobial agent for empirical therapy should be used in these patients.

Salmonelosis extraintestinal: clínica, epidemiología y resistencia antimicrobiana / Salmonella extraintestinal infection: clinic features, epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance

Se evaluaron retrospectivamente las características clínicas de 59 pacientes con aislamientos extraintestinales de Salmonella enterica no Typhi y la resistencia antibiótica entre 1988 y 2004. En el 95% de los casos se conocieron las condiciones de base del huésped que consistieron en: enfermedad oncohematológica (15), lupus eritematoso sistémico (11), síndrome de inmuno deficiencia adquirida (10), pacientes internados en neonatología (8), colecistitis (4) y otras (7). Las formas clínicas halladas fueron: bacteriemias primarias (26), bacteriemias secundarias a gastroenteritis (15), artritis séptica (7), infección urinaria (12), infección intraabdominal (5), meningitis (1) y pericarditis (1). En 29 pacientes se aisló Salmonella enterica no Typhi en más de una localización. El 15,8% y el 21,0% de 59 aislamientos presentaron resistencia a cefalosporinas de 3ª generación y a ampicilina, respectivamente. Salmonella Agona causó un brote epidémico en la sala de cuidados intensivos de neonatología, aislándose de sangre en 5 pacientes y en uno también de LCR. Este serotipo fue multirresistente. Imipenem, trimetroprima-sulfometoxazol y ciprofloxacina fueron los antibióticos más activos (CIM 50: 0,5; 0,5 y 0,002 µg/mL, respectivamente).

The clinical and antimicrobial resistance of 59 patients with extraintestinal infection by nontyphi Salmonella was retrospectively evaluated from 1988 to 2004. In 95% of the patients there were underlying diseases, which included: oncohematologic disease (15), systemic lupus erythematosus (11), acquired immunodeficiency disease (AIDS) (10), patients of neonatal units (8), colecistitis (4), and other disorders (7). The clinical manifestation were primary bacteremias (26), bacteremias secondary to gastroenteritis (15), arthritis (7), urinary tract infections (12), abdominal infections (5), meningitis (1) and pericarditis (1). In 29 patients Salmonella enterica no Typhi was isolated in more than one site. Resistance to third generation cephalosporins was observed in 15,8 % of these isolates, and resistance to ampicillin in 21,0%. Salmonella Agona was isolated from an outbreak in neonatal ICU; the organism was recovered from blood samples of five neonates and in one patient also isolated from CSF. These isolates showed multiresistance. Imipenem, trimetoprim-sulfametoxazol and ciprofloxacin were the three most active antimicrobial agents (MIC 50: 0.5, 0.5 and 0.002 µg/mL, respectively).

Resistencia a antibioticos de bacilos gram negativos aislados en unidades de cuidados intensivos. Analisis comparativo de dos periodos (1998-2001) / Bacterial resistance to antibiotics in gram-negative rods isolated from intensive care units. Comparative analysis between two periods (1998-2001)

The incidence and drug susceptibility of gram-negative isolates from clinical samples of patients from different intensive care units at the Hospital de Clinicas Jose de San Martin were analysed. Two hundred isolates during the same five months period, in two different years (1998 and 2001) were obtained and evaluated. Acinetobacter spp., was the most frequently isolated microorganism. Resistance to imipenem was observed in 60% of these isolations while resistance to 3rd generation cephalosporin and ciprofloxacin was observed in more than 80%. Klebsiella pneumoniae was not resistant to imipenem, the resistance to 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins decreased from 71.4 to 30% of isolates (p < 0.05), while ciprofloxacin resistance increased from 5 to 20% (p < 0.05). An increasing resistance to imipenem in Pseudomonas aeruginosa was noted, from 15.4 to 68% (p < 0.05%); to ciprofloxacin, from 31.4 to 66.3% (p < 0.05); to amikacin, from 23 to 60.1% (p < 0.05); and to ceftazidime, from 8.2 to 28.3% (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the alarming rates of resistance found in this study provide compelling evidence of the need for more rational use of antimicrobial agents; ongoing surveillance on the etiology of infections and their resistance profiles is important to guide future antimicrobial chemotherapy