title: A comparative In vitro surveillance study of gemifloxacin activities against 2,632 recent Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from across Europe, North America, and South America. The Gemifloxacin Surveillance Study Research Group.
abstract: From 1997 to 1999, 94 study centers in 15 European, 3 North American, and 2 South American countries contributed 2,632 isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae to an international antimicrobial susceptibility testing study. Only 62.0% of isolates were susceptible to penicillin, while 22.3% were penicillin intermediate and 15.6% were penicillin resistant. Resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (24.4%), azithromycin (26.0%), and clarithromycin (27.1%) was also highly prevalent. For the penicillin-resistant isolates (n = 411), the MICs at which 90% of isolates are inhibited (MIC(90)s) for gemifloxacin, levofloxacin, ofloxacin, clarithromycin, and azithromycin were 0.03, 1, 2, >16, and >64 microgram/ml, respectively. Similarly, for isolates resistant to both azithromycin and clarithromycin (n = 649), gemifloxacin, levofloxacin, ofloxacin, and penicillin MIC(90)s were 0.03, 1, 2, and 4 microgram/ml, respectively. Overall rates of resistance to trovafloxacin (0.3%), levofloxacin (0.3%), grepafloxacin (0.6%), and ofloxacin (0.7%) were low. For ofloxacin-intermediate and -resistant isolates (n = 142), gemifloxacin had the lowest MIC(90) (0.12 microgram/ml) compared to the MIC(90)s of trovafloxacin (0.5 microgram/ml), grepafloxacin (1 microgram/ml), and levofloxacin (2 microgram/ml). For all S. pneumoniae isolates tested, gemifloxacin MICs were </=0.5 microgram/ml, suggesting that gemifloxacin has the potential to be used as a treatment for pneumococcal infections, including those arising from isolates resistant to beta-lactams and macrolides.
authors.affiliation: Laboratories International for Microbiology Studies, Rolling Meadows, Illinois, USA. dhoban@ihmainc.com
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hoban
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Bouchillon
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Karlowsky
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Poupard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D005060:Europe; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D000077735:Gemifloxacin; D006801:Humans; D064704:Levofloxacin; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009287:Naphthyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009656:North America; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013020:South America; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D009287:Naphthyridines; D064704:Levofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin; D000077735:Gemifloxacin