In Vitro Activity of Cephalosporin RWJ-54428 (MC-02479) against Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Positive Cocci

RWJ-54428 (MC-02479) is a novel cephalosporin that binds to penicillin-binding protein (PBP) PBP 2' (PBP 2a) of methicillin-resistant staphylococci. Its in vitro activity was assessed against 472 gram-positive cocci, largely selected as epidemiologically unrelated isolates with multidrug resistance. The MIC at which 50% of isolates are inhibited (MIC(50)) and MIC(90) of RWJ-54428 for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were 1 and 2 microg/ml, respectively, whereas they were 0.5 and 0.5 microg/ml, respectively, for methicillin-susceptible S. aureus. The MIC(50) and MIC(90) were 1 and 4 microg/ml, respectively, for methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCoNS), whereas they were 0.25 and 1 microg/ml, respectively, for methicillin-susceptible isolates. The highest MICs for MRSA and MRCoNS isolates were 2 and 4 microg/ml, respectively. The MIC(50) and MIC(90) of RWJ-54428 for Enterococcus faecalis were 0.5 and 1 microg/ml, respectively, but they were 4 and 8 microg/ml, respectively, for Enterococcus faecium. For penicillin-susceptible, -intermediate, and -resistant pneumococci, the MIC(90)s of RWJ-54428 were 0.03, 0.25, and 0.5 microg/ml, respectively, with the highest MIC for a pneumococcus being 1 microg/ml, recorded for a strain for which penicillin and cefotaxime MICs were 8 and 4 microg/ml. MICs for Lancefield group A, B, C, and G streptococci were < or =0.008 microg/ml; those for viridans group streptococci, including isolates not susceptible to penicillin, were from 0.015 to 0.5 microg/ml. RWJ-54428 did not select resistant mutants of MRSA or enterococci in challenge experiments and has the potential to be useful for the treatment of infections caused by gram-positive cocci.     

In vitro evaluation of BO-3482, a novel dithiocarbamate carbapenem with activity against methicillin-resistant staphylococci.

BO-3482, a dithiocarbamate carbapenem, inhibited clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) at 6.25 microg/ml (MIC at which 90% of isolates tested are inhibited [MIC90]), while the MIC90 of imipenem was > 100 microg/ml. BO-3482 was generally less active than imipenem against methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, streptococci, enterococci, and gram-negative bacteria, although BO-3482 showed better activity (MIC90) than imipenem against Enterococcus faecium, Haemophilus influenzae, Proteus mirabilis, and Clostridium difficile. The affinities (50% inhibitory concentrations) of BO-3482 for penicillin-binding protein (PBP) PBP 2' of MRS and PBP 5 of E. faecium (both PBPs have low affinities for ordinary beta-lactam antibiotics) were 3.8 and 20 microg/ml, respectively, reflecting the greater activity of BO-3482 against MRS than against E. faecium.     

Zyvox Annual Appraisal of Potency and Spectrum Program Results for 2006: an activity and spectrum analysis of linezolid using clinical isolates from 16 countries

The Zyvox Annual Appraisal of Potency and Spectrum Program has completed its fifth year of monitoring for emerging resistance to linezolid and other Gram-positive active agents on the continents of Europe, Asia, Australia, and Latin America. In 2006, 4216 Gram-positive isolates from 16 nations were submitted for analysis from 6 organism groups including Staphylococcus aureus (54.0%), coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) (14.6%), enterococci (10.0%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (9.4%), viridans group streptococci (5.0%), and beta-hemolytic streptococci (7.0%). Linezolid retained potent activity against S. aureus (MIC(50) and MIC(90), 2 microg/mL; 39.8% methicillin resistant) and CoNS (MIC(50) and MIC(90), 1 microg/mL; 74.3% methicillin resistant). Despite endemicity of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (up to 30.0%) in several nations, linezolid inhibited >99% of strains at 相似文献   

Argentinean collaborative multicenter study on the in vitro comparative activity of piperacillin-tazobactam against selected bacterial isolates recovered from hospitalized patients

The in vitro activity of piperacillin-tazobactam and several antibacterial drugs commonly used in Argentinean hospitals for the treatment of severe infections was determined against selected but consecutively isolated strains from clinical specimens recovered from hospitalized patients at 17 different hospitals from 9 Argentinean cities from different geographic areas during the period November 2001-March 2002. Out of 418 Enterobacteriaceae included in the Study 84% were susceptible to piperacillin-tazobactam. ESBLs putative producers were isolated at an extremely high rate since among those isolates obtained from patients with hospital acquired infections 56% of Klebsiella pneumoniae, 32% of Proteus mirabilis and 25% Escherichia coli were phenotypically considered as ESBLs producers Notably P.mirabilis is not considered by for screening for ESBL producers. ESBLs producers were 100% susceptible to imipenem and 70% were susceptible to piperacillin-tazobactam whereas more than 50% were resistant to levofloxacin. The isolates considered as amp C beta lactamase putative producers showed 99% susceptibility to carbapenems while 26.7% were resistant to piperacillin-tazobactam and 38.4% to levofloxacin. Noteworthy only 4% of the Enterobacteriaceae isolates were resistant to amikacin. Piperacillin-tazobactam was the most active agent against Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates (MIC(90): 128 microg/ml; 78% susceptibility) but showed poor activity against Acinetobacter spp (MIC(90):>256 microg/ml; 21.7% susceptibility). Only 41.7% Acinetobacter spp isolates were susceptible to ampicillin-sulbactam. Piperacillin-tazobactam inhibited 100% of Haemophilus influenzae isolates (MIC(90) < 0.25 microg/ml) but only 16.6% of them were ampicillin resistant. The activity of piperacillin-tazobactam against oxacillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus or coagulase negative staphylococci was excellent (MIC(90) 2 microg/ml; 100% susceptibility). Out of 150 enterococci 12 isolates (8%) were identified as E.faecium and only three isolates (2%), 2 E.faecium and 1 E.faecalis were vancomycin resistant. All the enterococci isolates were susceptible to linezolid. Piperacillin-tazobactam showed excellent activity (MIC(90) 2 microg/ml; 92% susceptibility). Regarding pneumococci all the isolates showed MICs of 16 microg/ml for piperacillin-tazobactam. Among 34 viridans group streptococci only 67% were penicillin susceptible and 85.2% ceftriaxone susceptible whereas piperacillin-tazobactam was very active (MIC(90) 4 microg/ml).Piperacillin-tazobactam is therefore a very interesting antibacterial drug to be used, preferably in combination (IE: amikacin-vancomycin) for the empiric treatment of severe infections occurring in hospitalized patients in Argentina. Caution must be taken for infections due to ESBL producers considering that the inoculum effect MICs can affect MIC values.     

Potency and antimicrobial spectrum update for piperacillin/tazobactam (2000): emphasis on its activity against resistant organism populations and generally untested species causing community-acquired respiratory tract infections

The in vitro activity of piperacillin/tazobactam and several comparison broad-spectrum compounds was assessed against recent clinical isolates of Gram-positive and -negative bacteria from geographically diverse medical centers in Europe, North and Latin America participating in various surveillance programs in 2000. Several organisms were characterized for phenotypic expression of various resistant determinants such as extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) or amp C cephalosporinase hyperproduction, and vancomycin resistance in enterococci (VRE). Piperacillin/tazobactam retained activity (MIC50) against oxacillin-susceptible Staphylococcus spp. (0.12-0.5 microg/ml), Bacillus spp. (0.5 microg/ml), vancomycin-susceptible enterococci (>4 microg/ml), and Corynebacterium spp. (2 microg/ml; not including C. jeikeium) with susceptibility rates of 100.0, 91.7, 85.7 and 81.8%, respectively. Piperacillin/tazobactam inhibited all Streptococcus spp. strains at < or = 16 microg/ml, including penicillin-resistant strains many of which were co-resistant to erythromycin (90%) and other beta-lactams. A specific breakpoint for these streptococci when testing piperacillin/tazobactam appears needed to prevent false-resistant reports using penicillin as a class representative. The carbapenems among beta-lactams were the most active agents against the ESBL-producing species of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae and those strains which hyper-express amp C enzymes including Citrobacter spp. and Enterobacter spp. Piperacillin/tazobactam only exhibited modest activity against the "amp C resistance group" strains (68.8% susceptible or intermediate, MIC < or = 64 microg/ml). Piperacillin/tazobactam (MIC50, 8 microg/ml; 79.5% susceptible) was the most active agent tested against multi-drug resistant isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Against sampled Haemophilus influenzae (39.2% ampicillin-resistant), piperacillin/tazobactam (MIC(90,) < or = 0.06 microg/ml), ceftriaxone and ceftazidime inhibited 100.0% of the isolates at < or = 0.25 microg/ml. These in vitro surveillance results from the year 2000 on three continents, demonstrated a sustained potent activity of piperacillin/tazobactam against selected problematic nosocomial and community-acquired pathogens. The potential importance of these findings is that this beta-lactamase inhibitor combination can be used an empiric treatment of serious infections in hospital environments where resistance has emerged, as well as covering nearly all isolates of fastidious respiratory tract pathogens acquired in the community setting.     

Comparative surveillance study of telavancin activity against recently collected gram-positive clinical isolates from across the United States

Telavancin is an investigational, rapidly bactericidal lipoglycopeptide antibiotic that is being developed to treat serious infections caused by gram-positive bacteria. A baseline prospective surveillance study was conducted to assess telavancin activity, in comparison with other agents, against contemporary clinical isolates collected from 2004 to 2005 from across the United States. Nearly 4,000 isolates were collected, including staphylococci, enterococci, and streptococci (pneumococci, beta-hemolytic, and viridans). Telavancin had potent activity against Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (MIC range, 0.03 to 1.0 microg/ml), independent of resistance to methicillin or to multiple agents. Telavancin activity was particularly potent against all streptococcal groups (MIC(90)s, 0.03 to 0.12 microg/ml). Telavancin had excellent activity against vancomycin-susceptible enterococci (MIC(90), 1 microg/ml) and was active against VanB strains of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (MIC(90), 2 microg/ml) but less active against VanA strains (MIC(90), 8 to 16 microg/ml). Telavancin also demonstrated activity against vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus and vancomycin-resistant S. aureus strains (MICs, 0.5 microg/ml to 1.0 microg/ml and 1.0 microg/ml to 4.0 microg/ml, respectively). These data may support the efficacy of telavancin for treatment of serious infections with a wide range of gram-positive organisms.     

Ampicillin susceptibilities of vaginal and placental isolates of group B streptococcus and Escherichia coli obtained between 1992 and 1994.

Vaginal group B streptococcus (GBS) and Escherichia coli isolates were tested for their susceptibilities to ampicillin. All 414 GBS isolates tested were susceptible to ampicillin; the MIC at which 90% of the isolates were inhibited (MIC90) was 0.125 microg/ml, and the range was 0.06 to 0.25 microg/ml. The MIC50 for the 342 E. coli isolates tested was 4.0 microg/ml, and 27% were resistant to ampicillin.     

Comparative antimicrobial characterization of LBM415 (NVP PDF-713), a new peptide deformylase inhibitor of clinical importance

LBM415 (NVP PDF-713) is the first member of the peptide deformylase (PDF) inhibitor class being developed for clinical trials as a parenteral and oral agent for treatment of community-acquired respiratory tract disease and serious infections caused by antimicrobial-resistant gram-positive cocci. In this study susceptibility testing results from 1,306 recent clinical isolates selected to over-represent resistance trends among the species were summarized. All staphylococci (153 strains; MIC at which 90% of isolates were inhibited [MIC90], 2 microg/ml), Streptococcus pneumoniae (170 strains; MIC90, 1 microg/ml), other streptococci (150 strains; MIC90, 1 microg/ml), enterococci (104 strains; MIC90, 4 microg/ml), Moraxella catarrhalis (103 strains; MIC90, 0.5 microg/ml), and Legionella pneumophila (50 strains; MIC90, 0.12 microg/ml) were inhibited at < or = 8 microg of LBM415/ml, as were 97% of Haemophilus influenzae isolates (300 strains; MIC90, 4 to 8 microg/ml). Among other bacterial groups, 100% of gram-positive and -negative anaerobes, including 22 Bacteroides spp. strains (31 strains total; MIC90, 1 microg/ml), were inhibited by < or = 4 microg/ml, whereas Enterobacteriaceae (112 strains) and most nonfermentative bacilli (107 strains) were not inhibited at readily achievable concentrations. The compound was found to have a dominantly bacteriostatic action, and spontaneous single-step mutational rates occurred at low levels (10(-6) to <10(-8)). Drug interaction studies failed to identify any class-specific synergistic interactions, nor were antagonistic interactions observed. Variations in broth and agar MIC test conditions demonstrated that, whereas the agar-based method trended towards a 1-log2 dilution-higher MIC than the broth method and was inoculum dependent, other variations in incubation environment, medium supplements, pH, or calcium concentration had little influence on LBM415 MIC results. Use of the efflux inhibitor phe-arg-beta-naphthylamide showed an average of 1 log2 dilution decrease in H. influenzae MICs, demonstrating the contribution of efflux pumps in influencing susceptibility to PDF inhibitors. The in vitro activity of LBM415 against targeted bacterial species, including resistant subsets, and other laboratory characteristics of this novel compound demonstrate the potential of PDF inhibitors as a new class of antimicrobial agents.     

In vitro antibacterial activities of DQ-113, a potent quinolone, against clinical isolates

The antibacterial activity of DQ-113, formerly D61-1113, was compared with those of antibacterial agents currently available. MICs at which 90% of the isolates tested are inhibited (MIC90s) of DQ-113 against clinical isolates of methicillin-susceptible and -resistant Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-susceptible and -resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci were 0.03, 0.008, 0.03, and 0.06 microg/ml, respectively. Moreover, DQ-113 showed the most potent activity against ofloxacin-resistant and methicillin-resistant S. aureus, with a MIC90 of 0.25microg/ml. DQ-113 inhibited the growth of all strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, including penicillin-resistant strains, and Streptococcus pyogenes at 0.06 microg/ml, and DQ-113 was more active than the other quinolones tested against Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium with MIC90s of 0.25 and 2 microg/ml, respectively. Against vancomycin-resistant enterococci, DQ-113 showed the highest activity among the reference compounds, with a MIC range from 0.25 to 2 microg/ml. DQ-113 also showed a potent activity against Haemophilus influenzae, including ampicillin-resistant strains (MIC90, 0.015 microg/ml), and Moraxella catarrhalis (MIC90, 0.03 microg/ml). The activity of DQ-113 was roughly comparable to that of levofloxacin against all species of ENTEROBACTERIACEAE: The MICs of DQ-113 against ofloxacin-susceptible Pseudomonas aeruginosa ranged from 0.25 to 2 microg/ml, which were four times higher than those of ciprofloxacin. From these results, DQ-113 showed the most potent activity against gram-positive pathogens among antibacterial agents tested.     

Oritavancin activity against vancomycin-susceptible and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci with molecularly characterized glycopeptide resistance genes recovered from bacteremic patients, 2009-2010

Oritavancin exhibited potent activity against vancomycin-susceptible (MIC(50) and MIC(90), 0.015/0.03 μg/ml) and vanB-carrying E. faecalis isolates (MIC(50) and MIC(90), 0.015 and 0.015 μg/ml). Higher (16- to 32-fold) MIC(50)s and MIC(90)s for vanA-harboring E. faecalis were noted (MIC(50) and MIC(90), 0.25 and 0.5 μg/ml), although oritavancin inhibited all strains at ≤ 0.5 μg/ml. Vancomycin-susceptible and vanB-carrying E. faecium strains (MIC(50) and MIC(90), ≤ 0.008 and ≤ 0.008 μg/ml for both) were very susceptible to oritavancin, as were VanA-producing isolates (MIC(50) and MIC(90), 0.03 and 0.06 μg/ml). Oritavancin exhibited good in vitro potency against this collection of organisms, including vancomycin-resistant enterococci.     

Comparative activity of cefditoren and other oral beta-lactams against nonpneumococcal streptococci

BACKGROUND: In vitro studies of cefditoren activity have focused primarily on Streptococcus pneumoniae and other bacterial species isolated from patients with respiratory infections, but relatively few reports have been published describing the activity of cefditoren against clinical isolates of nonpneumococcal streptococci. METHODS: Cefditoren activity was determined by broth microdilution (M7-A5, NCCLS, 2000) for 450 viridans group streptococci, 917 Streptococcus pyogenes and 800 other beta-hemolytic streptococci collected throughout the US during 1999-2000. RESULTS: Against viridans group streptococci, cefditoren (MIC(90), 0.5 microg/ml) was 4- to 32-fold more active than the other beta-lactams tested (penicillin ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, cefprozil and cefuroxime). The difference in activity between cefditoren and the other beta-lactams was greater for penicillin-nonsusceptible isolates (MIC(90s), 1 microg/ml versus 8-32 microg/ml) than among penicillin-susceptible isolates (MIC(90s), 0.12 versus 0.25- 1 microg/ml). Cefditoren also demonstrated potent activity against S. pyogenes (MIC(90), 0.015 microg/ml) and other beta-hemolytic streptococci (MIC(90), 0.06 microg/ml), comparable to that of the other beta-lactams. CONCLUSIONS: The activity demonstrated by cefditoren against nonpneumococcal streptococci, including beta-lactam- and macrolide-resistant isolates, suggests that this agent holds promise as therapy for infections caused by all clinically significant species of streptococci.     

Antimicrobial activity and spectrum of the new glycylcycline, GAR-936 tested against 1,203 recent clinical bacterial isolates

The in vitro activity of GAR-936, a new semisynthetic glycylcycline, was evaluated in comparison with two tetracyclines and several other antimicrobial agents. A total of 1,203 recent clinical isolates were tested by reference broth or agar dilution methods. Among the members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, GAR-936 was generally two- to four-fold more active than minocycline, and two- to 16-fold more active than tetracycline. All enteric bacilli MIC90 results were < or = 4 microg/mL; the exception being Proteus mirabilis and indole-positive Proteae (> or = 8 microg/mL). GAR-936 demonstrated excellent activity against all gram-positive cocci with 90% of the penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates inhibited at 0.03 microg/ml, while the same isolates had a MIC90 of 8 and > 8 microg/mL for minocycline and tetracycline, respectively. All Enterococcus spp., including vancomycin-resistant isolates, were inhibited at 0.25 microg/mL of GAR-936 (MIC90, 0.12 or 0.25 microg/mL). Although GAR-936 (MIC50, 0.25 microg/mL) was two-fold less active than minocycline (MIC50, 0.12 microg/mL) against oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, all isolates were inhibited at < or = 0.25 microg/mL. GAR-936 demonstrated good activity against nonfermentative bacteria such as Acinetobacter spp. (MIC90, 2 microg/ml) and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (MIC90, 4 microg/mL), but the compound exhibited only modest activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC50, 8 microg/mL). Haemophilus influenzae (MIC90, 1-2 microg/mL), Moraxella catarrhalis (MIC90, 0.12 microg/mL), and various Neisseria spp. (MIC90, 0.12-0.5 microg/mL) were susceptible to GAR-936. These results indicate that GAR-936 has potent in vitro activity against a wide range of clinically important pathogenic bacteria, and that several gram-positive and -negative isolates resistant to older tetracyclines and other drug classes remain susceptible to GAR-936, the newest glycylcycline candidate for clinical use.     

In vitro activity of tigecycline (GAR-936) tested against 11,859 recent clinical isolates associated with community-acquired respiratory tract and gram-positive cutaneous infections

Tigecycline is a novel 9-t-butylglycylamido derivative of minocycline that has demonstrated activity against a variety of bacterial pathogens, including resistant isolates, during preclinical studies. In vitro activities of tigecycline and comparators were tested against 11,859 recent (2000 and 2002) bacterial strains recovered from patients in 29 countries with community-acquired respiratory tract disease (3,317 gram-positive and -negative strains) and skin and soft tissue infections (8,542 gram-positive strains). All oxacillin-susceptible and -resistant Staphylococcus aureus (5,077 strains; tigecycline MIC(90), 0.5 microg/mL) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (1,432 strains; MIC(90), 0.5 microg/mL), penicillin-susceptible and -resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (1,585 strains; MIC(90), < or =0.25 microg/mL), viridans group streptococci (212 strains; MIC(90), < or =0.25-0.5 microg/mL), vancomycin-susceptible and -resistant enterococci (1,416 strains; MIC(90), 0.25-0.5 microg/mL), beta-haemolytic streptococci (405 strains; MIC(90), < or =0.25 microg/mL), beta-lactamase positive and negative Haemophilus influenzae (1,220 strains; MIC(90), 1 microg/mL), Moraxella catarrhalis (495 strains; MIC(90), 0.25 microg/mL), and Neisseria meningitidis (17 strains; MIC(90), < or =0.12 microg/mL) were inhibited by 2 microg/mL or less of tigecycline. Whereas potency of tetracycline and doxycycline markedly dropped in various resistant organism subsets, tigecycline was unaffected with an overall MIC(90) of 0.5 microg/mL. These findings confirm that tigecycline maintains a truly broad spectrum like the tetracycline class while enhancing potency. It also incorporates stability to the commonly occurring tetracycline resistance mechanisms, making it an attractive candidate for continued clinical development against pathogens causing serious community-acquired respiratory tract infections, as well as cutaneous infections.     

Comparative in vitro activities of DU-6859a, levofloxacin, ofloxacin, sparfloxacin, and ciprofloxacin against 387 aerobic and anaerobic bite wound isolates.

The activities of DU-6859a, levofloxacin, ofloxacin, sparfloxacin, and ciprofloxacin against bite wound isolates were determined by the agar dilution method. DU-6859a was the most active compound (MICs, < or = 0.125 microg/ml) against all Pasteurella species, Staphylococcus aureus, and streptococci; anaerobes were susceptible to < or = 0.5 microg/ml, except fusobacteria, which were susceptible to < or = 2 microg/ml. Against aerobes, levofloxacin was more active than ofloxacin (MIC at which 90% of isolates are inhibited [MIC90], < or = 1.0 microg/ml for both) and sparfloxacin and ciprofloxacin were also active (MIC90s, < or = 0.25 and < 1 microg/ml, respectively).     

Comparison of in vitro activities of ABT-773 and telithromycin against macrolide-susceptible and -resistant streptococci and staphylococci

The activity of a new ketolide, ABT-773, was compared to the activity of the ketolide telithromycin (HMR-3647) against over 600 gram-positive clinical isolates, including 356 Streptococcus pneumoniae, 167 Staphylococcus aureus, and 136 Streptococcus pyogenes isolates. Macrolide-susceptible isolates as well as macrolide-resistant isolates with ribosomal methylase (Erm), macrolide efflux (Mef), and ribosomal mutations were tested using the NCCLS reference broth microdilution method. Both compounds were extremely active against macrolide-susceptible isolates, with the minimum inhibitory concentrations at which 90% of the isolates tested were inhibited (MIC90s) for susceptible streptococci and staphylococci ranging from 0.002 to 0.03 microg/ml for ABT-773 and 0.008 to 0.06 microg/ml for telithromycin. ABT-773 had increased activities against macrolide-resistant S. pneumoniae (Erm MIC90, 0.015 microg/ml; Mef MIC90, 0.12 microg/ml) compared to those of telithromycin (Erm MIC90, 0.12 microg/ml; Mef MIC90, 1 microg/ml). Both compounds were active against strains with rRNA or ribosomal protein mutations (MIC90, 0.12 microg/ml). ABT-773 was also more active against macrolide-resistant S. pyogenes (ABT-773 Erm MIC90, 0.5 microg/ml; ABT-773 Mef MIC90, 0.12 microg/ml; telithromycin Erm MIC90, >8 microg/ml; telithromycin Mef MIC90, 1.0 microg/ml). Both compounds lacked activity against constitutive macrolide-resistant Staphylococcus aureus but had good activities against inducibly resistant Staphylococcus aureus (ABT-773 MIC90, 0.06 microg/ml; telithromycin MIC90, 0.5 microg/ml). ABT-773 has superior activity against macrolide-resistant streptococci compared to that of telithromycin.     

In vitro activities of the new antifungal triazole SCH 56592 against common and emerging yeast pathogens

A broth microdilution method performed in accordance with the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards guidelines was used to compare the in vitro activity of the new antifungal triazole SCH 56592 (SCH) to that of fluconazole (FLC), itraconazole (ITC), and ketoconazole (KETO) against 257 clinical yeast isolates. They included 220 isolates belonging to 12 different species of Candida, 15 isolates each of Cryptococcus neoformans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and seven isolates of Rhodotorula rubra. The MICs of SCH at which 50% (MIC(50)) and 90% (MIC(90)) of the isolates were inhibited were 0.06 and 2.0 microg/ml, respectively. In general, SCH was considerably more active than FLC (MIC(50) and MIC(90) of 1.0 and 64 microg/ml, respectively) and slightly more active than either ITC (MIC(50) and MIC(90) of 0.25 and 2.0 microg/ml, respectively) and KETO (MIC(50) and MIC(90) of 0.125 and 4.0 microg/ml, respectively). Our in vitro data suggest that SCH has significant potential for clinical development.     

Comparative susceptibilities of various animal-pathogenic mycoplasmas to fluoroquinolones.

The in vitro activities of six antimicrobial agents were tested against 162 mycoplasma strains of eight species isolated from poultry and livestock at different geographic sites. Tiamulin was most active (MICs at which 90% of the isolates were inhibited [MIC90s], 0.025 to 0.25 microg/ml); enrofloxacin and danofloxacin had near equivalent activities (MIC90s, 0.05 to 1.0 microg/ml), but were much more active than flumequine (MIC90s, 1 to 50 microg/ml). The MIC90s of tylosin and oxytetracycline were 0.25 to > 100 microg/ml and 0.25 to 100 microg/ml, respectively.     

Worldwide assessment of dalbavancin activity and spectrum against over 6,000 clinical isolates

Continuing emergence of new antimicrobial resistance mechanisms and the increased frequency of existing resistances, requires the development of alternative antimicrobial agents. Dalbavancin is an amide glycopeptide derivative with a markedly extended serum elimination half-life. Dalbavancin and selected comparators were tested against 6,339 recent clinical isolates (2002) from the Americas and Europe using reference susceptibility testing methods. The general characteristics of this Gram-positive organism collection were: oxacillin (OXA)-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (ORSA) at 39% of strains; vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) at 10%; and penicillin-nonsusceptible pneumococci at 28%. The overall distribution of dalbavancin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranged from < or = 0.015 to > 32 microg/ml, but > 99% of MIC results were at < or =1 microg/ml. S. aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci were extremely susceptible to dalbavancin (MIC90, 0.06 microg/ml) despite resistance patterns to other agents. Dalbavancin was the most potent compound (by weight) against vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium (MIC90, 0.06 and 0.12 microg/ml, respectively); however, VRE strains showed decreased dalbavancin susceptibility (MIC50, 4 or 8 microg/ml). All streptococcal isolates were inhibited at < or =0.25 microg/ml of dalbavancin. This reported dalbavancin activity indicates that the new glycopeptide has significant activity, superior to available agents in the class, and a potency that was uniform across geographically sampled organisms. Some VRE were inhibited by very low dalbavancin concentrations (< or = 1 microg/ml; Van B phenotypes). Further clinical development seems warranted for this once-weekly administered agent.     

In vitro antimicrobial activities and spectra of U-100592 and U-100766, two novel fluorinated oxazolidinones.

Two new fluorinated oxazolidinones, U-100592 and U-100766, were evaluated against more than 659 gram-positive and -negative organisms and compared with glycopeptides, erythromycin, clindamycin, clinafloxacin, and chloramphenicol. U-100592 and U-100766 were usually equally potent, but the MICs at which 90% of the isolates are inhibited (MIC90s) of U-100592 for some staphylococci and enterococci were slightly lower than those of U-100766 (1 versus 2 micrograms/ml). The MIC90 of U-100592 and U-100766 for oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was 2 micrograms/ml, the same as observed for oxacillin-susceptible strains. The oxazolidinone MICs for other Staphylococcus spp. were < or = 2 micrograms/ml (MIC50, 0.5 to 1 microgram/ml). All enterococci were inhibited by < or = 4 and < or = 2 micrograms of U-100592 and U-100766 per ml, respectively. Against 152 vancomycin-resistant enterococci (five species), both compounds had a narrow range of MICs (0.25 to 2 micrograms/ml) and a MIC90 of 1 microgram/ml. Corynebacterium jeikeium, Bacillus spp., and all tested streptococci were inhibited (< or = 4 micrograms/ml). Members of the family Enterobacteriaceae and other gram-negative bacilli were not susceptible (MIC50, > 64 micrograms/ml) to either oxazolidinone. Three potencies of U-100592 and U-100766 disks were tested (5, 15, and 30 micrograms), and acceptable correlations (r = 0.81 to 0.90) with the measured MICs were observed. Best discrimination of the tentatively susceptible organisms (MICs, < or = 4 micrograms/ml) was demonstrated with the 30-micrograms disk concentration. The oxazolidinones demonstrated a dominant bacteristatic action. These oxazolidinones (U-100592 and U-100766) appear promising for treatment of gram-positive organisms that demonstrate resistance to contemporary therapeutic agents.     

In Vitro Activities of Fluoroquinolones against Antibiotic-Resistant Blood Culture Isolates of Viridans Group Streptococci from across Canada

Among 418 blood culture isolates of viridans group streptococci obtained between 1995 and 1997, the in vitro rates of nonsusceptibility to penicillin, erythromycin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were 28, 29, 24, and 14%, respectively. The most prevalent group (125 strains) was Streptococcus mitis, followed by Streptococcus sanguis (56 strains). For 236 (56%) strains resistant to one or more antibiotics, the ciprofloxacin MIC at which 90% of the isolates were inhibited (MIC(90)) was 4 microg/ml, whereas the MIC(90)s of trovafloxacin, grepafloxacin, and gatifloxacin were 0.25 microg/ml.