Antimicrobial susceptibility and serogroups of Salmonella isolates from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The antimicrobial susceptibility and serogroups of 153 Salmonella strains isolated during a period of 22 months from both children and adults at a major teaching hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were studied. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing by comparative disc method and MIC determination by E-test method were performed on selected antimicrobial agents. For nalidixic acid and trimethoprim only the comparative disc method was used. Discrepancy between the two methods were noticed only in 1.3% of isolates. The majority of isolates from children (41%) were serogroup B, while those from adults (43%) were serogroup C1. The overall resistance was 16% to ampicillin and ampicillin/sulbactam, 13% to nalidixic acid, and 11% to chloramphenicol and trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole. The resistance of Salmonella isolates to the so-called first line anti-Salmonella agents, i.e. ampicillin, chloramphenicol and trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole, has increased compared to that reported 4 years ago from this Institution. Almost all isolates were susceptible to the second, and third generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, aztreonam, mecillinam and gentamicin. Multiple drug resistance to two or more drugs was noticed in 16% of isolates, most of which were serogroup B. The majority of these multiple drug resistant isolates (96%) were ampicillin resistant and β-lactamase producers. Although these isolates showed reduced MICs to ampicillin/sulbactam, their MICs were still higher than the susceptibility breakpoint for this combination. The nalidixic acid-resistant isolates showed higher MICs to the fluoroquinolones compared to the nalidixic acid-sensitive isolates. Isolates from children showed higher resistance to some of the antimicrobial agents compared to those from adults.     

Antibiotic resistance in Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica strains isolated in Poland from 1998 to 1999.

A total of 326 Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica strains representing 29 serotypes, isolated from human stool specimens during 1998-1999 in sanitary-epidemiological units in Poland were tested for antibiotic susceptibility by a standard disk diffusion method. The antibiotics used were ampicillin, cefotaxime, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, streptomycin, gentamicin, kanamycin, nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, furazolidone, cotrimoxazole, sulphonamides and trimethoprim. In addition, 201 strains belonging to the five most commonly isolated serotypes (S. Enteritidis, S. Typhimurium, S. Hadar, S. Infantis and S. Virchow) also had minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) determined for amoxycillin/clavulanic acid. Selected strains were screened for production of extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs). There were 49.4% of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica strains resistant to two or more antibiotics, with the highest prevalence of multiple resistant strains among serotypes Typhimurium, Hadar and Virchow. Resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline, nalidixic acid, furazolidone and sulphonamides occurred most frequently. Over 93% of S. Virchow strains were resistant to furazolidone. No strains resistant to ciprofloxacin by disk-diffusion method were detected but 31.3% of isolates of the 201 strains representing the five most common serotypes had reduced ciprofloxacin susceptibility (MICs ranging 0.125-0.5 mg/l). One strain (S. Mbandaka) was resistant to cefotaxime and produced ESBL.     

Antibiotic resistance of Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor strains from the seventh pandemic in China, 1961-2010

Antibiotic resistance is observed with increasing frequency among epidemic Vibrio cholerae strains in some countries. In this study, the antibiotic resistance profiles of V. cholerae O1 El Tor strains isolated in China from 1961 to 2010 were analysed. The frequency of antibiotic resistance among the seventh pandemic El Tor isolates from China remained low, except for resistance to nalidixic acid (45.9%), tetracycline (11%) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (38.5%). All test strains in the first multiyear epidemic in the 1960s were sensitive to all test antibiotics, whereas strains from the 1990s and later showed a rapid increase in the prevalence of resistance. The class I integron was present primarily among strains isolated between 1993 and 1998, and the prevalence of the SXT element was much greater among strains isolated after 1993. This study determined the regional resistance characteristics of epidemic clones in China and serves as a warning of the rapid dissemination of resistance in the past 20 years.     

Antibiotic resistance in a very remote Amazonas community

In a very remote human community of the Peruvian Amazonas with minimal antibiotic exposure, high levels of acquired resistance to the oldest antibiotics (ampicillin, tetracycline, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, streptomycin and chloramphenicol) were detected in commensal Escherichia coli, with remarkable diversity of resistant clones and of resistance genes and plasmids. This pattern was similar overall to that previously observed in a very remote community of Bolivia. It was also similar to that observed in the nearest urban area, except for a lower dominance of resistant isolates and the absolute lack of quinolone resistance in the remote community. Present findings suggest that antibiotic resistance observed in remote communities with minimal antibiotic exposure is a general phenomenon contributed by complex mechanisms and provide new insights into the mechanisms involved in this phenomenon.     

Emerging resistance in Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi in Hong Kong

A total of 182 Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi isolated from three hospitals in Hong Kong from 1986 to 1992 were tested for their susceptibility to 21 antimicrobial agents. Four percent or less were resistant to chloramphenicol, ampicillin, some of the cephalosporins, nalidixic acid, tetracycline and trimethoprim and 6% to 1024 mg/l sulfamethoxazole. All were susceptible to the aminoglycosides and the 4-quinolones. Nineteen isolates were resistant to at least 1, and up to 9, antibiotics. Of 8 chloramphenicolor multiply-resistant isolates studied, only 3 could transfer their resistances while resistance of one could only be mobilized. Four of 5 ampicillin-resistant strains produced a beta-lactamase of pI 5.5. Antibiotic resistances were mediated by plasmids of 106, 116 or 221 kb of incompatibility groups H, I1 and K. Three resistant isolates did not harbour any plasmid. A total of 43 (24%) S. Typhi harboured plasmids ranging in size from 4.3 to 221 kb. Plasmids of 106 kb and 8.5 kb were found in 17 and 10 isolates, respectively. Restriction enzyme digestion of these two plasmids showed that each could be differentiated into 3 types. Of 89 isolates that were phage typed, 38% were untypable, while 17% and 12% were of phage types E1 and A, respectively, and the rest belonged to 17 other types.     

Characterization of antimicrobial resistance patterns and class 1 integrons in Escherichia coli O26 isolated from humans and animals

Antimicrobial resistance patterns and the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance genes and class 1 integrons in 35 Escherichia coli O26 isolated from humans and food-producing animals were evaluated. All isolates were resistant to cefaclor, cefalothin and sulfonamide and were susceptible to amikacin, gentamicin, cefmetazole, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and trimethoprim. Most isolates were resistant to aztreonam, ampicillin, tetracycline, streptomycin and kanamycin. All ampicillin- and streptomycin-resistant E. coli O26 carried ampC and strA-strB gene sequences, respectively. Florfenicol- and chloramphenicol-resistant isolates carried floR but not cmlA. Class1 integrons were identified in 14% of E. coli O26 isolates. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the presence of multiple antimicrobial resistance genes in E. coli O26 isolated from human and animal origins.     

Diclofenac in the management of E. coli urinary tract infections

E. coli is the main agent of uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) and accounts for more than 85% of recurrent cystitis and at least 35% of recurrent pyelonephritis. Despite the widespread availability of antibiotics, UTIs remain the most common bacterial infection in the human population. It is currently advised that the clinical administration of antibiotics against the pathogenic bacteria should be prohibitted due to the emergence of multidrug resistant (MDR) bacterial strains. Therefore, newer and more effective antimicrobials are in demand to treat such cases. One hundred and thirty six urine samples were collected from UTI patients. E. coli was isolated from 85 samples, out of which 33% were resistant to common antibiotics. The isolates were decreasingly resistant to ampicillin, tobramycin, augmentin, nalidixic acid, cefuroxime, nitrofurantoin, kanamycin, pipemidic acid, chloramphenicol, cefotaxime, cefamendol, ofloxacin, ceftizoxime, norfloxacin and amikacin. The anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac exhibited significant antibacterial activity against common bacterial strains both in vitro and in vivo. The present work was conducted to evaluate the in vitro inhibitory effect of this drug on the clinically isolated strains of E. coli in hospitals. All the isolates were sensitive to diclofenac, with MIC values ranging from 5-50 microg/mL. The MIC90 value of the drug was 25 microg/mL. Therefore, it may be suggested that diclofenac has the capacity to treat UTI caused by E. coli.     

Transferable antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli isolated from healthy Nigerian school children

Three hundred and ninety-six E. coli isolates obtained from apparently healthy school children in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, were tested for their susceptibility to 11 different antibiotics. Of these, only gentamicin, cefotaxime and nalidixic acid were found to have significant in vitro activity against most of the isolates. The incidence of antibiotic resistances encountered varied between 24% for trimethoprim and 55.5% for the sulphonamide. It was further observed that 47.5% of the isolates were identified as being multiply resistant, since they were simultaneously resistant to at least three different antibiotics. The 86 trimethoprim-resistant isolates tested were found to be able to transfer this resistance trait together with resistance genes of to other antibiotics, into a plamidless strain of E. coli by conjugation. Seventy-seven of the trimethoprim-resistant isolates were also found to be classifiable into the types of dihydrofolate reductases responsible for the observed resistance on the basis of hybridization experiments. The results of this study indicate that there is a large reservoir of antibiotic resistances within the community, and that the resistance genes were easily transferable to other strains even without direct exposure to antibiotics.     

Antibiotic resistance of commensal Escherichia coli of food-producing animals from three Vojvodinian farms, Serbia

Commensal bacteria of food-producing animals are considered an important reservoir of antibiotic resistance. The aim of this study was to determine the current prevalence of resistance to 18 different antibiotics in animal commensal Escherichia coli isolated from food-producing animals from three different farms with specific modes of antimicrobial use. A very high prevalence of resistance was found to tetracycline, a moderate level to streptomycin, ampicillin, cefalothin and nalidixic acid and a low of resistance to the other tested antibiotics. Resistance to two or more antibiotics was observed among all swine E. coli, 63.2% of broiler isolates and 37.5% of cattle isolates. The results show that commensals of food-producing animals from Vojvodina region are important reservoirs of resistance to older-generation antibiotics.     

In vitro susceptibility of new generation of antibacterial antibiotics against pathogenic bacteria

Antibiotic susceptibility of ten bacteria i.e. Neisseria catarrhalis, Salmonella typhi, S. enteritidis, Haemophilus influenzae, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescence, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli to twenty antibiotics i.e. cefpirom (30 mcg), ceftriaxone (30 mcg), erythromycin (15 mcg), doxycycline (30 mcg) lomefloxacin (10 mcg), sisomicin (30 mcg), vancomycin (30 mcg), augmentin (30 mcg), ampicillin (30 mcg), cotrimoxazole (25 mcg), cefotaxime (30 mcg), Chloramphenicol (30 mcg), cephalexin (30 mcg), tetracycline (30 mcg), ciprofloxacin (5 mcg), nitrofurantoin (300 mcg), nalidixic acid (30 mcg), pefloxacin (10 mcg), norfloxacin and ofloxacin (5 mcg) was studied to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of recently introduced second and third generation antibiotics. All the test strains were sensitive to pefloxacin, erythromycin, augmentin and chloramphenicol. Maximum resistance to cefpirom excluding E. coli and S. typhi and co-trimoxazole except S. typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was observed, occasional resistance was seen against ceftriaxone, vancomycin and cefotaxime.     

Extended antimicrobial resistance screening of the dominant faecal Escherichia coli and of rare resistant clones

Fifty faecal samples from healthy adults were grown on MacConkey agar and three pink colonies were subcultured, identified to species level and their antimicrobial susceptibility determined. Forty-seven samples yielded 141 isolates of Escherichia coli that were susceptible to most antimicrobials. Resistance was noted for ampicillin (30.5%), chloramphenicol (12.1%), tetracycline (23.4%), trimethoprim (24.8%) and co-trimoxazole (22.7%). A direct faecal plating method was used for extended resistance screening with E. coli as the indicator organism. Zone breakpoints were determined using normalised resistance interpretation and gave similar susceptibility results. Eighty-eight isolates of E. coli from within the zones of inhibition revealed four times more antimicrobial resistance. Extended antimicrobial resistance screening both provides the susceptibility profile of the dominant E. coli isolate and detects greater resistance in rare isolates.     

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Escherichia coli from community-acquired urinary tract infections in Europe: the ECO·SENS study revisited

This study determined the antimicrobial susceptibility of Escherichia coli causing community-acquired, acute, uncomplicated, non-recurrent urinary tract infection in unselected women aged 18-65 years and compared the results with those obtained 8 years earlier in the first ECO·SENS study (1999-2000). During 2007-2008, urine samples were taken from 1697 women in Austria, Greece, Portugal, Sweden and the UK. The countries were chosen to represent areas of Europe indicated to have more (Greece and Portugal) or less (UK, Austria and Sweden) problems with resistance. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of 903 E. coli isolates (150-200 isolates per country) to 14 antimicrobials was performed by disk diffusion using European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) breakpoints. In E. coli, resistance to mecillinam, cefadroxil (representing oral cephalosporins), nitrofurantoin, fosfomycin trometamol, gentamicin and the third-generation cephalosporins cefotaxime and ceftazidime was <2%, with the following exceptions: gentamicin in Portugal (2.8%); fosfomycin in Greece (2.9%); and cephalosporins in Austria (2.7-4.1%). Resistance levels were higher for amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (2.0-8.9%) and ciprofloxacin (0.5-7.6%) and much higher to ampicillin (21.2-34.0%), sulfamethoxazole (21.2-31.3%), trimethoprim (14.9-19.1%) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (14.4-18.2%). Resistance to quinolones and trimethoprim increased between the ECO·SENS I (1999-2000) and ECO·SENS II (2007-2008): nalidixic acid 4.3% to 10.2%; ciprofloxacin 1.1% to 3.9%; and trimethoprim 13.3% to 16.7%. In the previous study, no isolates with extended-spectrum β-lactamase were found; however, in the present study 11 isolates were identified as having either CTX-M or AmpC.     

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from meningoencephalitis in sheep

The antimicrobial susceptibility to different antimicrobial agents of 41 Listeria monocytogenes strains isolated from sheep with meningoencephalitis and from feedstuff was tested by both microdilution and disk diffusion methods. Both sets of isolates of L. monocytogenes were susceptible to penicillin G, amoxicillin, cephalothin, erythromycin, vancomycin, rifampicin, gentamicin, kanamycin, trimethoprim, sulfisoxazole, chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacin, but resistant to tetracycline and doxycycline (7.3 and 4.9%, respectively). Tetracycline was the most frequent resistance trait in L. monocytogenes strains of animal origin. Four strains (9.8%) also exhibited reduced susceptibility (MIC 4 mg/l) to doxycycline suggesting the need of surveillance studies to monitor the antimicrobial resistance of Listeria strains of animal origin.     

Antibiotic and heavy metal resistance in motile aeromonads and pseudomonads from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) farms in Australia

A total of 129 Pseudomonas spp. and 90 Aeromonas spp. were isolated from nine rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) farms in Australia. All the isolates were tested for sensitivity to 15 antibiotics and the multiresistant strains were tested for sensitivity to seven heavy metals. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined by the agar dilution method. In Pseudomonas spp., resistance to amoxicillin, cefalothin, ceftiofur, ticarcillin, chloramphenicol, florfenicol, streptomycin, nitrofurantoin and trimethoprim was widespread, whereas resistance to cefotaxime and oxolinic acid was less common and only single isolates were resistant to tetracycline and sulfamethoxazole; all isolates were sensitive to ciprofloxacin and gentamicin. In Aeromonas spp., resistance to amoxicillin and cefalothin was widespread, resistance to ticarcillin, tetracycline and streptomycin was common, whilst resistance to ceftiofur, florfenicol and sulfamethoxazole was less common. Single isolates were resistant to chloramphenicol, nitrofurantoin and trimethoprim, and all isolates were sensitive to cefotaxime, oxolinic acid, ciprofloxacin and gentamicin. Multiple resistance was also observed. Most isolates were tolerant to different concentrations of various heavy metals, as evidenced by their MICs ranging from 6.25 microg/mL to >3200 microg/mL. These results confirm our previous findings that bacteria resistant to antibiotics are present in fish and sediments from aquaculture in Australia. In addition, we have found resistance to heavy metals in fish and sediment isolates. Much of the antibiotic resistance detected is likely to be intrinsic, although resistance to oxytetracycline, streptomycin and sulfonamides suggests either contamination from run-off from farms or perhaps off-label use of antibiotics in a situation where no antibiotics are licensed for use in aquaculture.     

Antimicrobial susceptibility of pathogens isolated from adult patients with uncomplicated community-acquired urinary tract infections in the Russian Federation: two multicentre studies, UTIAP-1 and UTIAP-2

In two Russian studies (UTIAP-1 and UTIAP-2) susceptibility to commonly used antimicrobial agents for urinary tract infections (UTI) was determined. 456 urinary isolates were obtained from 588 out-patients with uncomplicated UTI in eight Russian centers during 1998-2001. The most common pathogens were Escherichia coli (85.9%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (6.0%). Over 90% of the E. coli isolates were susceptible to nitrofurantoin (95.7%), cefuroxime (96.4%) and ciprofloxacin (95.5%). Co-amoxiclav, nalidixic acid and pipemidic acid were less active -84.4%, 93.1% and 93.9% susceptibility stains correspondingly. In contrast, 37.1% of the E. coli isolates were resistant to ampicillin, 22.9% to trimethoprim, 21% to co-trimoxazole. Susceptibility patterns of uropathogens vary between geographical regions of Russia.     

2018-2020年甘肃省食源性疾病中致泻大肠埃希菌的耐药性分析

摘要：目的 本文对甘肃省2018-2020年食源性疾病监测中分离的致泻大肠埃希菌从年度、季度、性别、年龄分布进行分析,并对分离株耐药状况进行研究,为由致泻大肠埃希菌引起的食源性疾病的防控及抗生素的使用提供政策和依据。方法 按照《食源性疾病监测工作手册》从食源性疾病病例监测样本中分离得到大肠埃希菌株,PCR方法进行分型,采用微量肉汤稀释法进行药敏试验。结果 2018-2020年甘肃省由致泻大肠埃希菌引起的食源性疾病呈下降趋势,患病率男性大于女性,19~45岁组大于其他年龄组。致泻大肠埃希菌对氨苄西林的耐药率最高(78.8%),对复方磺胺甲恶唑、头孢唑林、四环素3种抗生素的耐药率超过40%,对亚胺培南、头孢西丁、头孢他啶3种抗生素的耐药率低于10%。致泻大肠埃希菌的多重耐药率为69.8%。5种型别的致泻大肠埃希菌中EAEC占比为62.2%,各型别对氨苄西林、头孢唑林和头孢噻肟的抗生素敏感性存在显著性差异(P<0.05)。结论 甘肃省食源性疾病中致泻大肠埃希菌耐药形势严峻,各个市州应当完善食源性疾病中致泻大肠埃希菌的监测工作,并对抗生素的使用进行控制。     

Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of pathogens in uncomplicated cystitis in Europe. The ECO.SENS study

The ECO.SENS study investigated the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of pathogens causing community-acquired acute uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in 4734 women aged 18-65 years presenting with symptoms of acute UTI, at 252 community healthcare centres in 16 countries in Europe plus Canada. Resistance in Escherichia coli occurred most frequently to ampicillin (30%) and sulphonamides (29%), followed by trimethoprim (15%), trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole (14%) and nalidixic acid (5%) but was low to co-amoxiclav, mecillinam, cefadroxil, nitrofurantoin, fosfomycin, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin, all at<3%. Consumption of antibiotics in 1997 varied more than 4-fold within Europe and from 9 to 37 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day, the consumption being highest in Southern Europe. The consumption of broad-spectrum penicillins correlated with resistance to ampicillin and there was a clear correlation between quinolone consumption and resistance to ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid. The 4-fold difference in antibiotic consumption within Europe and the correlation to resistance emphasises the importance of controlling antibiotic usage.     

临床分离志贺菌耐药性分析及1类整合子的检测

目的了解2007年至2010年安徽省临床分离志贺菌耐药性和1类整合酶基因(intⅠ1)、qacE△1-sul1基因及整合子携带的耐药基因盒的分布。方法琼脂稀释法检测21种抗菌药物对志贺菌的最低抑菌浓度。PCR扩增intⅠ1和qacE△1-sul1基因,对阳性菌株可变区基因盒序列进行分析。结果 137株志贺菌对萘啶酸、氨苄西林、磺胺甲噁唑/甲氧苄啶的耐药率均80.0%以上,且多重耐药率达94.2%,但对三代头孢菌素和氟喹诺酮类耐药率在33.0%以下。intⅠ1的检出率为89.1%(122/137),检出dfrA17-aadA5和aar-3-aacA4两种基因盒,首次在志贺菌中检测到aar-3-aacA4基因,GenBank登录号JF271916。结论安徽省临床分离志贺菌多重耐药现象严重。临床仍可选用氟喹诺酮类和三代头孢菌素作为本地区细菌性痢疾的经验性治疗。1类整合子与志贺菌的耐药具有一定的相关性。     

Antibiotic resistant fecal isolates of Enterococci among unselected patients outside the clinical sector: an epidemiological study from Southern Germany

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and determinants of antibiotic-resistant Enterococci in a large group of outpatients in Southern Germany. METHODS: Stool samples were collected from 497 unselected patients aged 40-75 years attending general practitioners. Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) and Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) were cultured and minimal inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics used inside and outside the clinical sector were tested. RESULTS: E. faecium and E. faecalis could be identified and cultured in 60 (12.4%) and 205 (41.2%) of the stool samples, respectively. Under non-selective culture conditions no vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) isolate was found. Only E. faecium isolates showed resistance to fluoroquinolones, 40% were resistant to ciprofloxacin. The prevalences of E. faecium resistance to ampicillin and doxycycline were 3.3% and 13.3%, respectively, whereas 0.5% and 29.6% of the E. faecalis isolates were resistant to ampicillin and doxycycline, respectively. Antibiotic use during the last 3 months was significantly associated with antibiotic resistance (to either ampicillin, imipenem, or doxycycline) of E. faecalis isolates (OR: 2.9; CI: 1.2-6.8). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalences of resistance were generally lower than and patterns of resistance were quite different from previous investigations in the clinical setting. Recent antibiotic use was associated with increased colonization with resistant strains.     

Macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B resistance phenotypes in clinical staphylococcal isolates

The prevalence of macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLSB) resistance as well as the MLSB resistance phenotypes were investigated by the double-disk diffusion test among 532 clinical staphylococci isolates in a Turkish university hospital. The activity of other antimicrobials, including trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, telithromycin, quinupristin/dalfopristin, linezolid, gentamicin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin and vancomycin, was also evaluated. Of 532 isolates, 38.5% were resistant to MLSB antibiotics; 63.9% of the resistant isolates exhibited a constitutive phenotype (cMLSB) whereas 36.1% expressed an inducible resistance phenotype (iMLSB). MLSB resistance was more prevalent among coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) strains. Oxacillin-resistant strains exhibited significantly higher MLSB resistance rates compared with oxacillin-susceptible strains (P<0.0001). The most frequently detected resistance phenotype among the total staphylococcal isolates was the constitutive type and this phenotype was more frequently encountered among oxacillin-resistant strains. With the exception of the fully active agents such as vancomycin, linezolid and quinupristin/dalfopristin, the most effective antibiotics were telithromycin and chloramphenicol among all isolates. Susceptibility rates to other antibiotics tested were higher among isolates without MLS(B) resistance than isolates with MLSB resistance. The detection of a considerable rate (43.5%) of iMLSB resistance among erythromycin-resistant/clindamycin-susceptible strains suggests that the true percentage of clindamycin resistance may be underestimated if testing for inducible resistance is not performed.