Analysis of Romanian Bacteroides isolates for antibiotic resistance levels and the corresponding antibiotic resistance genes.

As part of an ESCMID Study Group on Anaerobic Infections (ESGAI) project, a study was conducted to measure the antibiotic susceptibilities and corresponding gene contents of 53 Bacteroides fragilis group strains isolated in Romania. The antibiotic resistance data was comparable with the data found for other East-European countries. Here, no resistant isolate was found for imipenem, metronidazole and tigecycline. An increasing role of the cepA, cfxA and cfiA genes was observed in their corresponding antibiotic resistances. Moreover, no isolate was found that harbored the cfiA gene with a possible activating IS element. Clindamycin resistance was low, similarly to that the rate for the ermF gene. However, we did find some isolates with nimB, ermB, msrSA, linA, satG, tetX, tetM and bexA genes. This study was the first to provide antibiotic resistance data for clinical Bacteroides strains from Romania.

First description of bla(NDM-1), bla(OXA-48), bla(OXA-181) producing Enterobacteriaceae strains in Romania.

We report the first isolation and characterization of several Enterobacteriaceae strains harboring bla(NDM-1), bla(OXA-48) and/or bla(OXA-181) genes in a Romanian emergency teaching hospital. Between January 2010 and September 2012 nine carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae strains were identified. The bla(NDM-1) gene was present in two Enterobacter cloacae strains, an Escherichia coli and two Klebsiella pneumoniae strains. One of these K. pneumoniae strains also harbored the bla(OXA-181) gene. Three other K. pneumoniae strains and one Serratia marcescens carried bla(OXA-48).

[Antimicrobial use and its correlations with the frequency of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains in a hospital setting]. / Evaluarea consumului de antibiotice si a efectului acestuia asupra frecventei tulpinilor de Pseudomonas aeruginosa carbapenem rezistente în mediul spitalicesc.

One of the major causes leading to increased antibiotic resistance is excess antimicrobial consumption. We have analysed the correlation between antibiotic use and frequency of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) strains in the general intensive care unit of a university hospital Antibiotic use was expressed as number DDD (daily defined doses)/100 occupied hospital bed-days (BD). CRPA incidence rates were determined by number of unique isolates reported to 100,000 BD. The average use of antibiotics between January and August 2008 was 174 DDD/100 BD. The first four most frequently prescribed antibiotics were as follows: first and second generation cephalosporins (47 DDD/100 BD), carbapenemns (29 DDD/100 BD), fluoroquinolones (26 DDD/100 BD) and glycopeptids (20 DDD/100 BD). Average monthly incidence rate of CRPA was 546/100,000 BD (319-773/100,000 BD. CI 95%). There was a correlation between CRPA incidence rate and carbapenem plus fluoroquinolone use (Pearson coefficient of correlation r = 0.7, p < 0.05). Our data showed that the evolution of CRPA incidence rates was related to carbapenem and fluoroquinolone use.

[Cumulative antibiogram--means of following local resistance phenomena based on material gathered in the laboratory of microbiology]. / Antibiograma cumulativa--posibilitate de urmarire a fenomenelor de rezistenta locale bazata pe materialul laboratorului de bacteiologie.

The cumulative antibiogram (CA) represents a report which summarizes the susceptibility of commonly isolated microorganisms to usual antibiotics in a defined period of time. We have evaluated the local resistance data during the year 2007 by generating CA from the bacteriology laboratory's database in Mures County Emergency Clinical Hospital for 3 categories of microorganisms: Gram-positive cocci, Gram-negative enteric rods and non-fermenters. A total of 1382 individual antibiotic susceptibility reports were analysed. Gram-positive cocci were susceptible 100% to glycopeptides and oxazolidinones. Fifty percent of S. aureus isolates were methicillin-resistant. More than 90% of S. aureus and MRSA (methicillin-resistant S. aureus) isolates were susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Gram-negative enteric rods were 100% susceptible to carbapenems. The susceptibility of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae to broad spectrum cephalosporins was 72% and 26%, respectively. The activity of carbapenems against Acinetobacter spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was 43% and 35%, respectively. Colistin was active in 100% of the isolated nonfermenters. CA is a useful tool for evaluation of local resistance data but careful interpretation of generated data is required in order to avoid under- or overestimation of resistance.

Bacteriuria and asymptomatic infection in chronic patients with indwelling urinary catheter: The incidence of ESBL bacteria.

Urinary tract infections due to the presence of a urinary catheter represent a real problem for patients who have to carry such an invasive device for a long time.Our aim was to identify the susceptibility of extended spectrum beta lactamases (ESBL) versus non-ESBL bacteria to antibiotics in urinary tract infections in patients who are chronic carriers of urinary catheters.The retrospective study included a period of 5 years, a total of 405 patients who are chronic carriers of urinary catheters, admitted to rehabilitation and palliative care units.Escherichia coli (E coli) was isolated in 41.2% of patients, Klebsiella pneumoniae (K pneumoniae) in 24.7%, and Proteus mirabilis (P mirabilis) in 15.3%. E coli microbial resistance rates ranged from a minimum of 7.5% (nitrofurantoin) to a maximum of 77.1% (ampicillin). In the case of K pneumoniae, microbial resistance ranged from 34.2% (netilmicin) to 73.2% (ceftriaxone). Resistance rates of P mirabilis ranged from 11.1% (cefepim) to 89.5% (ampicillin). Positivity of ESBL bacteria was identified in 47.4% of patients. Resistance rates of ESBL-positive E coli ranged from 50.0% (ceftriaxone) to 88.1% (cefepime), and ESBL-negative E coli rates ranged from 3.4% (cefepime) to 64.4% (amikacin). Resistance rates of ESBL-positive K pneumoniae ranged between 39.1% (netilmicin) and 85.1% (ceftriaxone), and ESBL-negative K pneumoniae between 7.1% (cefepime) and 53.3% (amikacin). In cases of ESBL-positive P mirabilis, rates ranged from 13.3% (cefepime) to 90.3% (ceftriaxone), whereas in cases of ESBL-negative P mirabilis, rates ranged between 8.3% (cefepime) and 80.0% (trimetroprim).Bacteriuria and asymptomatic catheter infection in chronic carriers is an important public health concern due to the frequent presence of multidrug-resistant bacteria. Our study highlights the need to develop control programs of catheter infections to minimize the risk of infections associated with these medical devices, and also the need for treatment of the infection rather than catheter colonization or contamination.

Incidence, antibiotic resistance and clonal relations of MRSA strains isolated from a Romanian university hospital.

Our aim was to estimate the frequency and characteristics ofmethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains occurring in a Romanian teaching hospital. We retrospectively studied isolates from infected or colonized patients treated at the intensive care and surgical units during January 2004-December 2005. The antibiotic susceptibility of MRSA strains and the presence of mecA gene were determined. Consecutively occurring strains isolated through a three-month period were typed using pulsed field gel electrophoresis. A total of 423 S. aureus strains were identified, methicillin-resistance was detected in 211 (49.9%) strains. Most of them were multiresistant. One of the MRSA genotypes identified by PFGE was commonly recovered from patients treated in the intensive care unit. According to our results, MRSA strains were frequently isolated pathogens in our hospital and there is an urgent need to enhance infection control efforts.