[High sensitivity of Escherichia coli to antimicrobial agents used for first-line treatment of urinary tract infections; results of an examination of feces of healthy subjects in Friesland].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the basic sensitivity of Escherichia coli in the province of Friesland, the Netherlands, to antimicrobial agents used by general practitioners to treat urinary tract infections.


METHODS
Inventory.


METHODS
Fifty general practitioners in the province were asked in 1999 to have faeces submitted by patients who had not been using antibiotics for at least one month. E. coli was isolated from the faeces using an elective medium. The proportions of resistance were compared with those of strains isolated in urine sent for examination to Friesland Public Health Laboratory by a clinic, outpatient department, general practice or nursing home.


RESULTS
The sensitivities were tested of 240 strains from 240 healthy subjects (73 males and 167 females; mean age 47 years (range 0-84)). The proportions of strains resistant to the agents tested were as follows: nitrofurantoin: 0.8%, trimethoprim: 10%, co-trimoxazole: 10%, amoxicillin: 15%, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid 0.4%. Forty-eight per cent of the strains showed intermediate susceptibility to amoxicillin, 63% to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. The resistance was lower than in isolates submitted for examination from general and specialist practices.


CONCLUSIONS
The antimicrobial agents mentioned are still useful for treatment of urinary tract infections in the general practice.
Overbeek
B P
BP
Laboratorium voor de Volksgezondheid in Friesland, afd. Medische Microbiologie, Postbus 21.020, 8900 JA Leeuwarden.
Overdijk
C J
CJ
Dikhoff
J H
JH
Goetsch
W G
WG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000892:Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence
D000892:Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary
Goede gevoeligheid van Escherichia coli voor antimicrobiële middelen gebruikt voor de behandeling van urineweginfecties in de eerste lijn; resultaten van een fecesonderzoek onder gezonde personen in Friesland.