In vitro activity of netilmicin against clinical isolates of methicillin resistant and susceptible Staphylococcus aureus.
BACKGROUND
The emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and its multidrug-resistant property has led to the search for an effective antibiotic to combat staphylococcal sepsis. At present, vancomycin remains the most effective antibiotic. This study evaluated the in vitro efficacy of netilmicin (an aminoglycoside) and compared its activity with 4 other antibiotics, viz. vancomycin, amikacin, tobramycin and ofloxacin.


METHODS
The minimum inhibitory concentration of the antibiotics was determined by the agar dilution method. Thirty strains each of methicillin-resistant and -susceptible S. aureus isolated from pus and blood cultures were included.


RESULTS
The susceptibility to netilmicin was found to be 100% and was the same as that observed for vancomycin.


CONCLUSIONS
All the methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains tested showed 100% susceptibility to netilmicin, suggesting its use in patients with such infections as an alternative to vancomycin. However, this finding needs to be verified in the clinical setting.
Manoharan
A
A
Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Lalitha
M K
MK
Jesudason
M V
MV
D000583:Amikacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009428:Netilmicin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*; D014031:Tobramycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000494:pharmacology
D005839:Gentamicins; D009428:Netilmicin; D014640:Vancomycin; D000583:Amikacin; D015242:Ofloxacin; D014031:Tobramycin