[Multicenter evaluation of the antimicrobial activity in vitro for six broad-spectrum beta-lactams in China using the E-test method].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the in vitro activities of cefepime and other 5 beta-lactam antimicrobial agents against 937 strains isolated from 10 teaching hospitals in different geographical areas in China during the early 1998.


METHODS
The MIC values of cefepime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, imipenem, cefoperazone/sulbactum, and piperacillin against 937 isolates were tested by a gradient concentration method (E-test((R)); AB Biodisk Co.).


RESULTS
Quality control isolates were tested in all working processes. MIC values of 96.5% (829/859 times) of quality assurance tests were within expected ranges of NCCLS. Only imipenem and cefepime could inhibit 90% of enterobacter and citrobacter strains, Cefepime were significantly more active than 3rd Generation cephalosporins in enterobacter and citrobacter strains, and little better active than E. coli and Klebsiella spp. (98%, 95% susceptibility). All tested antimicrobial excluding ceftazidime had very high activity to oxacillin susceptible Staphylococci (95% approximately 100% susceptibility). cefepime, ceftazidime, imipenem, and cefoperazone/sulbactum had similar activity to Pseudomonas aeruginosa (83% approximately 79% susceptibility). Both imipenem and cefoperazone/ sulbactum were very active to Acinetobacter spp. (97%, 89% susceptibility).


CONCLUSIONS
The rank order of activity of the six tested agents is imipenem (97% Susceptible) > cefepime (89%) > cefoperazone/sulbactum (86%) > ceftazidime (76%) > ceftraixone (67%) > piperacillin (57%). The data are helpful to guide empiric therapy with beta-lactams in China.
Xu
Y
Y
Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100730, China.
Chen
M
M
Zhang
S
S
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D000077723:Cefepime; D002438:Cefoperazone / Q000494:pharmacology; D002442:Ceftazidime / Q000494:pharmacology; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000494:pharmacology; D002681:China; D015378:Imipenem / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010878:Piperacillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D047090:beta-Lactams / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins; D047090:beta-Lactams; D015378:Imipenem; D002443:Ceftriaxone; D002438:Cefoperazone; D000077723:Cefepime; D002442:Ceftazidime; D010878:Piperacillin