Susceptibilities of Hong Kong isolates of multiply resistant Shigella spp. to 25 antimicrobial agents, including ampicillin plus sulbactam and new 4-quinolones.
Seventy-two percent of 129 shigella isolates from two Hong Kong hospitals were Shigella flexneri. Twenty-six percent were S. sonnei, and there was only one isolate each of S. dysenteriae and S. boydii. Ninety-six percent of the isolates were resistant to two or more antibiotics, and up to 11 resistances were seen in a single isolate. Fifty-seven percent or more of these isolates were resistant to ampicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and sulfamethoxazole; and up to twenty-three percent were resistant to kanamycin, trimethoprim, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and gentamicin. All the isolates were susceptible to amikacin, nalidixic acid, and the newer 4-quinolone agents; and all but one were susceptible to the cephalosporins tested. Only three isolates remained resistant to ampicillin in the presence of sulbactam. Ampicillin plus sulbactam or the newer 4-quinolone agents may be alternatives for the treatment of severe infections caused by multiply resistant shigellas.
Ling
J
J
Department of Microbiology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories.
Kam
K M
KM
Lam
A W
AW
French
G L
GL
D000667:Ampicillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011804:Quinolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012760:Shigella / Q000187:drug effects*; D013407:Sulbactam / Q000494:pharmacology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D011804:Quinolines; D000667:Ampicillin; D013407:Sulbactam