title: Characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates: occurrence rates, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, and molecular typing in the global SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program, 1997-1999.
abstract: During 1997-1999, a total of 70,067 isolates (6631 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates) were analyzed in the SENTRY program by geographic region and body site of infection. The respiratory tract was the most common source of P. aeruginosa. P. aeruginosa isolation rates increased during the study interval. Europe was the only region to show a significant decline in beta-lactam and aminoglycoside susceptibility rates. There was a reduction in the rates of susceptibility of Canadian isolates to imipenem and of Latin American isolates to meropenem. A total of 218 multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates (MDR-PSA; resistant to piperacillin, ceftazidime, imipenem, and gentamicin) were observed; MDR-PSA occurrence rates (percentages of all isolates) ranged from 8.2% (Latin America) to 0.9% (Canada). No antimicrobial inhibited >50% of MDR-PSA strains. Molecular characterization of selected, generally resistant strains was performed. Isolates showing unique ribogroups were found in Europe, Latin America, and the United States, but clonal spread was documented in several medical centers.
authors.affiliation: University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA, and Division of Infectious Diseases, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. galesac@aol.com
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Gales
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Turnidge
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rennie
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramphal
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D021521:Ribotyping
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents