Antibiotic resistance patterns of bacteria causing urinary tract infections in the elderly living in nursing homes versus the elderly living at home: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic resistance is a problem in nursing homes. Presumed urinary tract infections (UTI) are the most common infection. This study examines urine culture results from elderly patients to see if specific guidelines based on gender or whether the patient resides in a nursing home (NH) are warranted. METHODS: This is a cross sectional observation study comparing urine cultures from NH patients with urine cultures from patients in the same age group living in the community. RESULTS: There were 232 positive urine cultures in the NH group and 3554 in the community group. Escherichia coli was isolated in 145 urines in the NH group (64%) and 2275 (64%) in the community group. There were no clinically significant differences in resistance. Combined, there were 3016 positive urine cultures from females and 770 from males. Escherichia coli was significantly more common in females 2120 (70%) than in males 303 (39%) (p < 0.05). Enterococcus faecalis was significantly less common in females 223 (7%) than males 137 (18%) (p < 0.05). For females, there were lower resistance rates to ciprofloxacin among Escherichia coli (7% vs 12%; p < 0.05) and to mecillinam among Proteus mirabilis (3% vs 12%; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Differences in resistance rates for patients in the nursing home do not warrant separate recommendations for empiric antibiotic therapy, but recommendations based on gender seem warranted.

[Changes in the antimicrobial susceptibility of Escherichia coli isolates from nosocomial versus community-acquired urinary tract infections]. / Evolución del patrón de sensibilidad de aislados de Escherichia coli en urocultivos procedentes del medio hospitalario y extrahospitalario.

INTRODUCTION: We studied the variations in Escherichia coli sensitivity patterns to commonly used antimicrobial agents in urinary tract infections, by stratifying isolates according to year and source. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the sensitivity of 14,319 E. coli urine isolates to 14 antimicrobials during the period of 1994-2001. Sensitivity comparison by source of the isolate began in 1996, and included 13,263 isolates originating in the hospital and 2,350 originating in the community. RESULTS: Penicillins were the least active antibiotic agents against the E. coli isolated (sensitivity 40.9%), followed by cotrimoxazole (66.4%), nalidixic acid (70.8%) and norfloxacin (76.1%). Sensitivities to the other antimicrobials tested remained near 95%. Sensitivity of E. coli isolates to most of the antimicrobials tested decreased gradually during the 8-year period, with a marked decrease for nalidixic acid and norfloxacin (76.0% down to 63.3% and 85.1% down to 66.6%, respectively). Nevertheless, sensitivity of E. coli to nitrofurantoin and ampicillin-sulbactam/amoxicillin-clavulanic acid increased; no significant differences were observed regarding cefazolin, gentamicin and fosfomycin. Sensitivity was higher in community E. coli isolates than in nosocomial isolates. The greatest differences corresponded to cephalosporins (OR = 2), nitrofurantoin (OR = 1.72), and ampicillin-sulbactam/ amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (OR = 1.57). Antimicrobials with significant differences in sensitivity between isolates of different sources decreased gradually from 6 (1996) to 1 (2001). CONCLUSIONS: Penicillins, cotrimoxazole and quinolones can no longer be considered the antimicrobials of choice for empirical treatment of E. coli urinary tract infections. Along the study period, we observed a reduction in the initial susceptibility differences among hospital and community isolates.

Evaluation of the antimicrobial efficacy of urinary catheters impregnated with antiseptics in an in vitro urinary tract model.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the long-term efficacy of urinary Foley catheters (latex and silicone) impregnated with (1) chlorhexidine and silver sulfadiazine (CXS) and (2) chlorhexidine, silver sulfadiazine, and triclosan (CXST) in inhibiting extra-luminal bacterial adherence and to compare their efficacy with that of silver hydrogel latex (SH) and nitrofurazone-treated silicone (NF) catheters. DESIGN: The antimicrobial spectrum of these catheters was evaluated using a zone of inhibition assay. A novel in vitro urinary tract model was developed to study the potential in vivo efficacy of antimicrobial catheters in preventing extraluminal bacterial colonization. The "meatus" was inoculated daily with Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aerginosa, and Candida albicans. The "bladder" portion of the model was cultured daily to determine bacterial growth. RESULTS: Both CXS and CXST catheters had a broader antimicrobial spectrum than SH and NF catheters. In the in vitro model, CXST latex and silicone catheters exhibited significantly better efficacy (3 to 25days) against uropathogens, compared with CXS (1 to 14 days) and control (0 to 5 days) catheters (P = .01). CXST latex catheters exhibited significantly longer protection against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, compared with SH catheters (P = .01). CXST silicone catheters resisted colonization with Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis for a significantly longer period (23 to 24 days) than did NF catheters (9 to 11 days) (P = .01). CONCLUSION: Catheters impregnated with synergistic combinations of chlorhexidine, silver sulfadiazine, and triclosan exhibited broad-spectrum, long-term resistance against microbial colonization on their outer surfaces.

Gonorrhea in the male: some aspects of treatment in Lebanon.

One hundred male patients with acute gonococcal urethritis were treated with various antibiotic and chemotherapeutic regimens. Pivampicillin, 1400 mg orally in two divided does at 5 hours' interval gave 100% cure in 60 patients. Gentamicin, 280 mg IM in one dose was equally efficaceous in 15 patients. Ampicillin and Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole gave cure rates of around 70%. While the results of the first two groups were in agreement with data published in different parts of the world, our results with the later two groups were contrary to those of other authors. The need for periodic evaluation of various antibiotic regimens in the treatment of gonorrhea is indicated.