ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Tedizolid is a novel oxazolidinone antibiotic. Considering the higher antibacterial effect in immunocompetent compared with immunosuppressed animals, it is not recommended in immunocompromised patients. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we assessed the 'pure' pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PKPD) relationship for tedizolid against Enterococcus in the hollow-fibre infection model (HFIM). METHODS: Unbound plasma concentration time profiles (200-5000â mg/day IV) were simulated in the HFIM over 120â h against an Enterococcus faecalis strain and two clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecium (VRE-vanB and VRE-vanA). Next, a PKPD model describing tedizolid efficacy against bacterial isolates was developed. A population PK model was linked to the developed PKPD model and utilized to predict the bacterial kinetics in plasma and in target tissues [adipose, muscle, epithelial lining fluid (ELF) and sputum] over 120â h of therapy. RESULTS: The PKPD model adequately described the bacterial kill kinetics for all bacterial populations. At the human recommended dose of 200â mg/day, bacterial growth was predicted in plasma and all tissues, except for ELF. Bacteriostasis was observed only at a higher dose of 1200â mg/day over 120â h. An fAUC/MIC of 80 related to stasis over 120â h. Subpopulations resistant to 3â×âMIC were amplified in plasma and target tissues, except for ELF, at doses of 200-800â mg/day. CONCLUSIONS: The human dose of 200â mg/day was insufficient to suppress bacterial growth in the HFIM, indicating that further components contribute to the clinical effect of tedizolid. This study supports the warning/precaution for tedizolid to limit its use in immunocompromised patients.
Subject(s)
Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections , Oxazolidinones , Animals , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Enterococcus , Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/drug therapy , Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/microbiology , Humans , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Organophosphates/pharmacology , Oxazoles/pharmacology , Oxazolidinones/pharmacology , TetrazolesABSTRACT
Establishing a multidisciplinary approach regarding the treatment of spondylodiscitis and analyzing its effect compared to a single discipline approach. 361 patients diagnosed with spondylodiscitis were included in this retrospective pre-post intervention study. The treatment strategy was either established by a single discipline approach (n = 149, year 2003-2011) or by a weekly multidisciplinary infections conference (n = 212, year 2013-2018) consisting of at least an orthopedic surgeon, medical microbiologist, infectious disease specialist and pathologist. Recorded data included the surgical and antibiotic strategy, complications leading to operative revision, recovered microorganisms, as well as the total length of hospital and intensive care unit stay. Compared to a single discipline approach, performing the multidisciplinary infections conference led to significant changes in anti-infective and surgical treatment strategies. Patients discussed in the conference showed significantly reduced days of total antibiotic treatment (66 ± 31 vs 104 ± 31, p < 0.001). Moreover, one stage procedures and open transpedicular screw placement were more frequently performed following multidisciplinary discussions, while there were less involved spinal segments in terms of internal fixation as well as an increased use of intervertebral cages instead of autologous bone graft (p < 0.001). Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were the most frequently recovered organisms in both patient groups. No significant difference was found comparing inpatient complications between the two groups or the total in-hospital stay. Implementation of a weekly infections conference is an effective approach to introduce multidisciplinarity into spondylodiscitis management. These conferences significantly altered the treatment plan compared to a single discipline approach. Therefore, we highly recommend the implementation to optimize treatment modalities for patients.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Discitis/drug therapy , Discitis/microbiology , Staphylococcal Infections/drug therapy , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Bone Screws/microbiology , Bone Transplantation/methods , Female , Humans , Length of Stay , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Spinal Fusion/methods , Spine/microbiology , Spine/surgery , Staphylococcal Infections/microbiology , Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects , Staphylococcus epidermidis/drug effects , Treatment Outcome , Young AdultABSTRACT
Especially in immunocompromised and intensive care patients VRE sepsis is associated with high mortality. The GeneXpert vanA/vanB assay is marketed for fast molecular surveillance of VRE colonization in peri-anal and rectal swabs. The aim of this study was to evaluate this assay for its usefulness for rapid identification of the vanAB determinant from positive blood cultures. During an evaluation phase, 33/34 blood cultures (negativeâ¯=â¯13; vanAâ¯=â¯1; and vanBâ¯=â¯19) were correctly identified. In the validation phase 205/211 blood cultures were correctly identified (negative, nâ¯=â¯160; vanA, nâ¯=â¯2; vanB, nâ¯=â¯43). Sensitivity and specificity calculated from valid tests was 100% (95% CI: 90.2-100%) and 100% (95% CI: 97.1-100%), respectively. The error rate was 2.8%. The Xpert vanA/vanB cartridge is a reliable tool in the rapid molecular identification of the vanA and vanB determinant from positive blood cultures with moderate inhibition rates (2.8%) and high PPV and NPV. However, additional methods for species identification are required.
Subject(s)
Blood Culture , Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/microbiology , Molecular Diagnostic Techniques/methods , Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci/genetics , Bacterial Proteins/genetics , Germany , Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/blood , Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/diagnosis , Humans , Molecular Diagnostic Techniques/instrumentation , Prospective Studies , Rectum/microbiology , Sensitivity and Specificity , Tertiary Care Centers , Vancomycin Resistance , Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: For the interpretation of concentrations of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) in post-mortem specimens, a possible increase due to post-mortem generation in the body and in vitro has to be considered. The influence of different storage conditions and the specimen type was investigated. METHOD AND MATERIAL: Post-mortem GHB concentrations in femoral venous blood (VB), heart blood (HB), serum (S) from VB, urine (U), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and vitreous humour (VH) were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after derivatisation. Various storage conditions, that is 4 °C or room temperature (RT) and the addition of sodium fluoride (NaF), were compared during storage up to 30 days. Additionally, bacterial colonisation was determined by mass spectrometry fingerprinting. RESULTS: Twenty-six cases without involvement of exogenous GHB were examined. GHB concentrations (by specimen) at day 0 were 3.9-22.1 mg/L (VB), 6.6-33.3 mg/L (HB), < 0.5-18.1 mg/L (U), 1.1-10.4 mg/L (CSF) and 1.7-22.0 mg/L (VH). At 4 °C, concentrations increased at day 30 to 5.6-74.5 mg/L (VB), 4.6-76.5 mg/L (HB) and < 0.5-21.3 mg/L (U). At RT, concentrations rose to < 0.5-38.5 mg/L (VB), 1.2-94.6 mg/L (HB) and < 0.5-37.5 mg/L (U) at day 30. In CSF, at RT, an increase up to < 0.5-21.2 mg/L was measured, and at 4 °C, a decrease occurred (< 0.5-6.5 mg/L). GHB concentrations in VH remained stable at both temperatures (1.2-20.9 mg/L and < 0.5-26.2 mg/L). The increase of GHB in HB samples with NaF was significantly lower than that without preservation. No correlation was found between the bacterial colonisation and extent of GHB concentration changes. CONCLUSION: GHB concentrations can significantly increase in post-mortem HB, VB and U samples, depending on storage time, temperature and inter-individual differences. Results in CSF, VH, S and/or specimens with NaF are less affected.
Subject(s)
Postmortem Changes , Sodium Oxybate/blood , Sodium Oxybate/cerebrospinal fluid , Sodium Oxybate/urine , Specimen Handling , Temperature , Vitreous Body/chemistry , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry , Humans , Sodium Fluoride , Time FactorsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Colonization and infection with third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli (3GCR-EC) are frequent in haematological and oncological patients. In this high-risk setting, German guidelines recommend single-room contact precautions (SCP) for patients with 3GCR-EC that are non-susceptible to fluoroquinolones (F3GCR-EC). However, this recommendation is controversial, as evidence is limited. METHODS: We performed a prospective, multicentre cohort study at four haematology and oncology departments assessing the impact of SCP on hospital-acquired colonization or bloodstream infection (BSI) with F3GCR-EC. Two sites performed SCP for F3GCR-EC patients including single rooms, gloves and gowns (SCP sites), and two did not (NCP sites). Active screening for 3GCR-EC was performed and isolates were characterized with molecular typing methods including whole genome sequencing and core genome multiple locus sequence typing to assess patient-to-patient transmission. Potential confounders were assessed by competing-risk regression analysis. RESULTS: Within 12 months, 1386 patients at NCP sites and 1582 patients at SCP sites were included. Hospital-acquisition of F3GCR-EC was observed in 22/1386 (1.59%) and 16/1582 (1.01%) patients, respectively (p 0.191). There were 3/1386 (0.22%) patients with BSI caused by F3GCR-EC at NCP sites and 4/1582 (0.25%) at SCP sites (p 1.000). Patient-to-patient transmission occurred in three cases at NCP and SCP sites each (p 1.000). The number of patients needed to screen in order to prevent one patient-to-patient transmission of F3GCR-EC was determined to be 3729. CONCLUSIONS: Use of SCP had no significant impact on hospital-acquisition or patient-to-patient transmission of F3GCR-EC in this high-risk setting.
Subject(s)
Cross Infection/prevention & control , Escherichia coli Infections/prevention & control , Infection Control/methods , Universal Precautions , Adult , Aged , Bacteremia/prevention & control , Bacteremia/transmission , Cross Infection/microbiology , Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial , Escherichia coli/isolation & purification , Female , Gloves, Protective , Hematology , Hospital Units/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Oncology Service, Hospital , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Establishing a systematic multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of prosthetic joint infections (PJI) of the hip and analyzing its effect on clinical decision-making. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-six patients diagnosed with PJI of the hip were included in the retrospective study. The treatment plan was either established by a single-discipline approach (n = 20) or by a weekly multidisciplinary infections conference (n = 26) consisting of at least an orthopedic surgeon, microbiologist and pathologist. Recorded data included the length of hospital stay, number and type of surgeries, medical complications, recovered organisms as well as the number of applied antibiotics. RESULTS: Patients discussed in the multidisciplinary infections conference showed a significantly shorter in-hospital stay (29 vs 62 days; p < 0.05), a significant reduction in surgeries (1.8 vs 5.1; p < 0.05) and a smaller number of antibiotics required (2.8 vs 4.2; p < 0.05). No significant difference could be found comparing inpatient complications between the two groups. Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most frequently recovered organisms in both patient groups. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the successful implementation of a weekly infections conference as an instrument to introduce a multidisciplinary approach to PJI of the hip. Implementation of these conferences significantly improves the treatment plan compared to a single-discipline approach, which we therefore highly recommend for other institutions. Multidiscipline may even affect clinical outcome which needs to be further investigated.
Subject(s)
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip/adverse effects , Prosthesis-Related Infections/therapy , Humans , Interdisciplinary Communication , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
In the light of ever increasing problems related to the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria, rapid microbiological diagnostics are of growing importance. Timely pathogen detection and availability of susceptibility data are essential for optimal treatment, but are even more crucial for de-escalation of broad spectrum empiric therapies. Medical microbiology is, thus, an integral part of antimicrobial stewardship programs. Traditional microbiological techniques for species identification and susceptibility testing rely on bacterial growth and are, thus, characterized by inherent slowness. Time-to-report is usually 48 h or longer, and typically delays optimization of therapeutic regimens. Constant improvement of available techniques (e. g., molecular methods) and introduction of novel methods (e. g., matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight [MALDI-ToF] mass spectrometry) have fundamentally changed diagnostic procedures. As a consequence, sensitivity and specificity as well as time-to-report have been dramatically improved. In this manuscript, key methodological advances in medical microbiology are discussed, emphasizing consequences for daily management of infectious disease patients.
Subject(s)
Bacterial Infections/diagnosis , Bacterial Infections/drug therapy , Drug Resistance, Multiple , Microbiological Techniques , Mycoses/diagnosis , Mycoses/drug therapy , Virus Diseases/diagnosis , Antimicrobial Stewardship , Bacteriological Techniques , Diagnosis, Differential , Early Medical Intervention , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction , Sensitivity and Specificity , Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-IonizationABSTRACT
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are of ever-increasing importance, most notably in high-risk patient populations. Therapy options are often limited for these isolates, and apart from tigecycline and daptomycin, oxazolidinone linezolid is frequently administered. The broad usage of linezolid, however, has driven the emergence of linezolid-resistant VRE strains (LR-VRE), further shortening therapeutic options. Second-generation oxazolidinone tedizolid has the advantage of being active against a specific subset of LR-VRE, i.e. isolates expressing the plasmid-encoded chloramphenicol-florfenicol resistance (cfr) gene. Here we tested tedizolid activity in a collection of 30 LR Enterococcus faecium VRE (MIC range 32-256 mg/l) isolated between 2012 and 2015 from clinical and screening specimens. By pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) isolates were assigned to 16 clonal lineages. In three cases, linezolid-susceptible progenitor isolates of LR-VRE were isolated, thus demonstrating the de-novo emergence of the linezolid-resistant phenotype. PCR did not detect cfr, cfr(B) or novel oxazolidinone resistance gene optrA in LR-VRE. All isolates, however, carried mutations within the 23S rDNA. Compared to linezolid, tedizolid MICs were lower in all isolates (MIC range 2-32 mg/l), but remained above the FDA tedizolid breakpoint for E. faecalis at 0.5 mg/l. Thus, related to the predominant resistance mechanism, tedizolid is of limited value for treatment of most LR-VRE and represents a therapeutic option only for a limited subset of isolates.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Drug Resistance, Bacterial , Enterococcus faecium/drug effects , Linezolid/pharmacology , Organophosphates/pharmacology , Oxazoles/pharmacology , Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci/drug effects , DNA, Bacterial/genetics , DNA, Ribosomal/genetics , Enterococcus faecium/isolation & purification , Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/microbiology , Humans , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Mutation , RNA, Ribosomal, 23S/genetics , Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci/isolation & purificationSubject(s)
Candida tropicalis/isolation & purification , Candidiasis/diagnosis , Fusariosis/diagnosis , Fusarium/isolation & purification , Infectious Encephalitis/diagnosis , RNA, Fungal/genetics , Sequence Analysis, RNA , Aged , Allografts , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Candidiasis/microbiology , Coinfection/diagnosis , Coinfection/microbiology , Combined Modality Therapy , Fatal Outcome , Fusariosis/microbiology , Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation , Humans , Immunocompromised Host , Infectious Encephalitis/microbiology , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/therapy , MaleABSTRACT
We show that comprehenders' expectations about upcoming discourse coherence relations influence the resolution of local structural ambiguity. We employ cases in which two clauses share both a syntactic relationship and a discourse relationship, and hence in which syntactic and discourse processing might be expected to interact. An off-line sentence-completion study and an on-line self-paced reading study examined readers' expectations for high/low relative-clause attachments following implicit-causality and non-implicit causality verbs (John detests/babysits the children of the musician who ). In the off-line study, the widely reported low-attachment preference for English is observed in the non-implicit causality condition, but this preference gives way to more high attachments in the implicit-causality condition in cases in which (i) the verb's causally implicated referent occupies the high-attachment position and (ii) the relative clause provides an explanation for the event described by the matrix clause (e.g., who are arrogant and rude). In the on-line study, a similar preference for high attachment emerges in the implicit-causality context-crucially, before the occurrence of any linguistic evidence that the RC does in fact provide an explanation-whereas the low-attachment preference is consistent elsewhere. These findings constitute the first demonstration that expectations about ensuing discourse coherence relationships can elicit full reversals in syntactic attachment preferences, and that these discourse-level expectations can affect on-line disambiguation as rapidly as lexical and morphosyntactic cues.
Subject(s)
Anticipation, Psychological/physiology , Psycholinguistics/methods , Speech Perception/physiology , Adult , Humans , Young AdultABSTRACT
Worldwide increasing rates of Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) with severe courses and outbreaks have been reported. This change in CDI epidemiology has on one hand been related to the spread of specific PCR ribotypes (e.g. 027) and on the other hand to increased prevalence of resistant C. difficile strains. This single-centre retrospective analysis characterized resistance against erythromycin and moxifloxacin, presence of binary toxin gene and ribotypes in 73 C. difficile isolates from 2008 in comparison with 23 isolates from 1990. In 1990, five different PCR ribotypes including 027 were identified. Resistance against erythromycin was detected in 3 of 23 (13%), while 20 of 23 (87%) from all isolates were susceptible to both erythromycin and moxifloxacin. In contrast, in 2008 a significantly increased prevalence of resistant C. difficile strains was observed, with 40 of 73 (54.8%) isolates being resistant against both antibiotics. Resistant C. difficile strains were mainly assigned to PCR ribotype 001. No isolates belonging to PCR ribotype 027 were identified. Our data provide evidence that the increase of resistant C. difficile strains belonging to PCR ribotype 001 rather than the spread of C. difficile PCR ribotype 027 contribute to the changing epidemiology of CDI.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Aza Compounds/pharmacology , Clostridioides difficile/drug effects , Drug Resistance, Bacterial , Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous/epidemiology , Erythromycin/pharmacology , Quinolines/pharmacology , Ribotyping , Bacterial Proteins/genetics , Bacterial Typing Techniques , Clostridioides difficile/classification , Clostridioides difficile/genetics , Cross Infection , Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous/microbiology , Fluoroquinolones , Germany , Hospitals, University , Humans , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Moxifloxacin , Polymerase Chain Reaction , PrevalenceABSTRACT
We report the exceptional case of a severe intraocular Abiotrophia defectiva infection which developed after cataract surgery. Retinal involvement as a complication of A. defectiva endophthalmitis or the combination of acute-onset endophthalmitis with infiltrative keratitis caused by this pathogen has not been described. Moreover, our report represents the first documented ocular A. defectiva infection in Germany. A. defectiva was identified using biotyping and 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence analysis. Despite vigorous antimicrobial therapy and repeated ocular surgery, visual outcome was poor.
Subject(s)
Aerococcaceae/isolation & purification , Endophthalmitis/microbiology , Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/diagnosis , Keratitis/microbiology , Retinitis/microbiology , Aerococcaceae/classification , Aerococcaceae/genetics , Aerococcaceae/metabolism , Aged , Bacterial Typing Techniques , Cataract Extraction/adverse effects , DNA, Bacterial/chemistry , DNA, Bacterial/genetics , DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry , DNA, Ribosomal/genetics , Endophthalmitis/complications , Female , Germany , Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/microbiology , Humans , Keratitis/complications , RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics , Retinitis/complications , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid , Surgical Wound Infection/microbiologyABSTRACT
Five Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates with reduced susceptibility to tigecycline (MIC, 2 microg/ml) were analyzed. A gene homologous to ramR of Salmonella enterica was identified in Klebsiella pneumoniae. Sequencing of ramR in the nonsusceptible Klebsiella strains revealed deletions, insertions, and point mutations. Transformation of mutants with wild-type ramR genes, but not with mutant ramR genes, restored susceptibility to tigecycline and repressed overexpression of ramA and acrB. Thus, this study reveals a molecular mechanism for tigecycline resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Drug Resistance, Bacterial/genetics , Genes, Bacterial , Klebsiella Infections/drug therapy , Klebsiella Infections/microbiology , Klebsiella pneumoniae/drug effects , Klebsiella pneumoniae/genetics , Minocycline/analogs & derivatives , Mutation , Bacterial Proteins/genetics , Base Sequence , DNA Mutational Analysis , DNA Primers/genetics , DNA, Bacterial/genetics , Gene Expression , Humans , In Vitro Techniques , Klebsiella pneumoniae/isolation & purification , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Minocycline/pharmacology , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , TigecyclineABSTRACT
We report a case of a 64-year-old veterinarian working in a state camel veterinary laboratory who was diagnosed with and treated for acute brucellosis with complicating epididymo-orchitis. Genomic tandem repeat analysis (MLVA-16) revealed identical Brucella strains in patient cultures and from different dromedary milk samples positive for Brucella melitensis, thereby confirming the diagnosis of a laboratory acquired infection. The case illustrates the high (airborne) infectivity of brucellosis in laboratory settings and the need to implement vigorous bio-safety measures in veterinary laboratories handling camel specimen diagnostic veterinary laboratory.
Subject(s)
Brucellosis/veterinary , Camelus , Tandem Repeat Sequences/genetics , Zoonoses/epidemiology , Animals , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Brucellosis/drug therapy , Brucellosis/epidemiology , Brucellosis/microbiology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Milk/microbiology , Nucleic Acid Hybridization , United Arab Emirates/epidemiology , Zoonoses/transmissionABSTRACT
A Salmonella enterica serovar Hadar strain resistant to tigecycline (MIC, 16 microg/ml) was isolated. Molecular characterization revealed the presence of a plasmid-borne tet(A) variant associated with Tn1721 mediating a rise of the MIC for tigecycline when transferred to Escherichia coli. Additionally, a truncating mutation in ramR was detected. Transformation with wild-type ramR but not with the mutated ramR lowered the MIC for tigecycline. Characterization of this Salmonella isolate implicates ramR in resistance to tigecycline.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Antiporters/genetics , Bacterial Proteins/genetics , Drug Resistance, Bacterial/genetics , Minocycline/analogs & derivatives , Mutation , Repressor Proteins/genetics , Salmonella enterica/drug effects , DNA Transposable Elements , Genetic Variation , Humans , Minocycline/pharmacology , Salmonella enterica/classification , Salmonella enterica/genetics , Salmonella enterica/isolation & purification , TigecyclineABSTRACT
Staphylococcus epidermidis is a common pathogen in device-associated infections which is able to attach onto polymeric surfaces and develop multilayered biofilms. Attached S. epidermidis displays reduced susceptibility to antimicrobial agents. In this study we investigated the influence of ciprofloxacin and the group IV quinolones gatifloxacin, gemifloxacin, and moxifloxacin with the minimal attachment killing (MAK) assay. MAK concentrations were determined for three biofilm-positive wild-type strains and their isogenic biofilm-negative mutants Depending on strain and investigated quinolone, it was possible to distinguish between a heterogeneous MAK (MAKhetero), and a homogeneous resistance (MAKhomo) which corresponds to the model of a few persisting cells under antibiotic treatment. A lower MAKhomo was detected for the biofilm-negative mutants as well as for the corresponding wild-types for some of the tested quinolones, which seems to be a result of higher bacterial inocula, whereas the MAKhetero concentrations were comparable for mutants and wild-types for nearly all of the tested antibiotics and strains. These data indicate that biofilm formation is not necessary for persistence of attached S. epidermidis cells under treatment with quinolones and could explain therapeutic failure in foreign body-associated infections due to biofilm-negative S. epidermidis isolates. The individual resistance phenotypes of investigated strains indicate that the determination of MAK concentrations might help to predict the therapy outcome of foreign body-associated infections with both biofilm-positive and biofilm-negative S. epidermidis. Thus, the relatively high activity displayed by group IV quinolones against individual attached staphylococcal isolates indicates a possible treatment option with the respective quinolones for foreign body-associated infections due to these isolates.
Subject(s)
Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology , Bacterial Adhesion/drug effects , Biofilms/drug effects , Drug Resistance, Bacterial , Prosthesis-Related Infections/drug therapy , Quinolones/pharmacology , Staphylococcal Infections/drug therapy , Staphylococcus epidermidis/drug effects , Aza Compounds/pharmacology , Biofilms/growth & development , Ciprofloxacin/pharmacology , Colony Count, Microbial , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Fluoroquinolones/pharmacology , Gatifloxacin , Gemifloxacin , Humans , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Moxifloxacin , Mutation , Naphthyridines/pharmacology , Prosthesis-Related Infections/microbiology , Quinolines/pharmacology , Staphylococcal Infections/microbiology , Staphylococcus epidermidis/genetics , Staphylococcus epidermidis/growth & developmentABSTRACT
In this paper, we describe the phenotypic and molecular characteristics of two clinically relevant, vancomycin-resistant (VanB), linezolid-resistant Enterococcus faecium isolates. Pyrosequencing showed the G to T single nucleotide polymorphism at bp 2576 in the genes coding for 23S rRNA and was used to quantify the proportion of G to T mutations among six different 23S rRNA genes in E. faecium as a marker for the molecular level of resistance to linezolid. In both isolates, the G to T mutation was found in two of six alleles, and no further mutations in the genes coding for 23S rRNA were found. The dynamic process of linezolid resistance could be demonstrated by the complete reversion of resistant alleles back to only wild type alleles in consecutive isolates of one isolate. Pyrosequencing being used to detect and quantify resistance to linezolid has been proven as a fast and reliable molecular screening method for monitoring linezolid resistance.