Quantitative analysis and molecular fingerprinting of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization in different patient populations: a prospective, multicenter study.

OBJECTIVES: To better understand the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization or infection in different patient populations, to perform quantitative analysis of MRSA in nasal cultures, and to characterize strains using molecular fingerprinting. DESIGN: Prospective, multicenter study. SETTING: Eleven different inpatient and outpatient healthcare facilities. PARTICIPANTS: MRSA-positive inpatients identified in an active surveillance program; inpatients and outpatients receiving hemodialysis; inpatients and outpatients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection; patients requiring cardiac surgery; and elderly patients requiring long-term care. METHODS. Nasal swab samples were obtained from January 23, 2006, through July 27, 2007; MRSA strains were quantified and characterized by molecular fingerprinting. RESULTS: A total of 444 nares swab specimens yielded MRSA (geometric mean quantity, 794 CFU per swab; range, 3-15,000,000 CFU per swab). MRSA prevalence was 20% for elderly residents of long-term care facilities (25 of 125 residents), 16% for HIV-infected outpatients (78 of 494 outpatients), 15% for outpatients receiving hemodialysis (31 of 208 outpatients), 14% for inpatients receiving hemodialysis (86 of 623 inpatients), 3% for HIV-infected inpatients (5 of 161 inpatients), and 3% for inpatients requiring cardiac surgery (6 of 199 inpatients). The highest geometric mean quantity of MRSA was for inpatients requiring cardiac surgery (11,500 CFU per swab). An association was found between HIV infection and colonization with the USA300 or USA500 strain of MRSA (P < or = .001). The Brazilian clone was found for the first time in the United States. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns for 11 isolates were not compatible with known USA types or clones. CONCLUSION: Nasal swab specimens positive for MRSA had a geometric mean quantity of 794 CFU per swab, with great diversity in the quantity of MRSA at this anatomic site. Outpatient populations at high risk for MRSA carriage were elderly residents of long-term care facilities, HIV-infected outpatients, and outpatients receiving hemodialysis.

Implications of antimicrobial resistance in the empirical treatment of community-acquired respiratory tract infections: the case of macrolides.

Macrolide resistance among pneumococci is increasing worldwide and is associated with increasing macrolide use. Recent studies show that use of macrolides and azalides increases nasopharyngeal carriage of both macrolide-resistant and penicillin-resistant pneumococci. Carriage of a resistant pneumococcus may foster dissemination. The clinical relevance of in vitro resistance has been debated. However, recent data from a matched case-control study showed that 18 (24%) of 76 patients had breakthrough bacteraemia with an erythromycin-resistant pneumococcus while taking a macrolide, whereas none of the 136 matched controls with an erythromycin-susceptible pneumococcal bacteraemia was taking a macrolide (P = 0.0000001). Moreover, five (24%) of 21 patients bacteraemic with the low-level resistant M phenotype and none of the 40 matched controls were taking a macrolide (P = 0.00157). These data indicate that macrolide resistance due to both the efflux and the methylase mechanisms is clinically relevant. Furthermore, they favour guidelines for the empirical treatment of outpatients with community-acquired pneumonia that recommend high-dose oral amoxicillin and reserve coverage of atypical pathogens for selected high-risk populations.

Comparative In vitro activities of daptomycin and vancomycin against resistant gram-positive pathogens.

The in vitro activity of daptomycin against 224 current gram-positive clinical isolates including vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus spp. (MRSS), and penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP) was evaluated. The MICs at which 90% of isolates are inhibited for daptomycin and vancomycin, respectively, were as follows: MRSA, 1 and 2 microg/ml; MRSS, 1 and 4 microg/ml; PRSP, 1 and 0.5 microg/ml; and VREF, 2 and >64 microg/ml. Daptomycin was bactericidal against 82% of 17 VREF isolates. The antibacterial activity of daptomycin was strongly dependent on the calcium concentration of the medium. Daptomycin was active against all gram-positive cocci tested.

The growing threat of antibiotic-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Resistance to penicillin has spread worldwide during the past 25 years. Strains resistant to alternative antibiotics have also emerged. Strains resistant to multiple antibiotics increasingly are isolated worldwide. Recently, isolates of penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae resistant to cefotaxime and ceftriaxone have caused meningitis. As a result, recommendations for the empiric therapy of pneumococcal infections, especially meningitis, are changing.

High rate of erythromycin and clarithromycin resistance among Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from blood cultures from Providence, R.I.

Four (5%) of 81 recent isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae from the blood of adult patients but no isolates from pediatric patients (n = 51) were resistant (MIC, > or = 1 microgram/ml) to erythromycin. The MICs of clarithromycin were slightly lower than those of erythromycin, but there was complete cross-resistance. Routine testing and surveillance are needed to determine whether erythromycin resistance among S. pneumoniae isolates is increasing throughout the United States.

Spurious oxacillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus because of defective oxacillin disks.

Clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus wee inappropriately categorized as intermediate or resistant to oxacillin on the basis of tests with two lots of oxacillin disks. The potency of one lot was tested and found to be below accepted limits. Routine quality control tests failed to detect the defective disks.