Gentamicin-resistant Klebsiella spp. and Escherichia coli in a neonatal intensive care unit.
A case of septicemia in a 7-day-old infant with a gentamicin-resistant strain of Klebsiella oxytoca prompted an epidemiological survey in a neonatal unit. Within a 3-month period 7 patients presented with symptomatic infection with gentamicin-resistant gram-negative bacilli. Another 3 patients were asymptomatic and only harboured the organisms in the stool. The aminoglycoside modifying enzyme ANT(2")-a was identified with a probe technique in different gram-negative species indicating the spread of a plasmid. After the replacement of gentamicin with amikacin and the adherence to proper barrier precautions the gentamicin-resistant strains disappeared from the ward.
Aronsson
B
B
Department of Bacteriology, Stockholm County Council Central Microbiological Laboratory, Sweden.
Eriksson
M
M
Herin
P
P
Rylander
M
M
D000668:Ampicillin Resistance; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D007709:Klebsiella / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests
D005839:Gentamicins