[In vitro activity of ertapenem against strains isolated from diabetic foot infections].
OBJECTIVE
The authors aimed to evaluate the in vitro activity of ertapenem against bacterial strains isolated from diabetic foot infections (DFI).


METHODS
All diabetic patients hospitalized for a first episode of DFI (stages 2 to 4, according to the International Working Group of Diabetic Foot Classification) were selected in the Nîmes University hospital between January 2005 to December 2005. MICs were determined using both E-test strips and dilution methods on bacterial strains isolated from foot samples.


RESULTS
Two hundred and fifty-two bacteria (154 Gram-positive cocci including 94 Staphylococcus aureus, 80 Gram-negative bacilli with 56 Enterobacteriaceae, and 18 anaerobes) were studied. Ertapenem was active against all Streptococcus spp., Enterobacteriaceae, anaerobes, and also against 89.8% of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus isolates. However, this antibiotic was active only against 31.5% of Staphylococcus epidermidis, 21.8% of Enterococcus faecalis, and 15.8% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that ertapenem may be a useful agent to treat patients suffering from DFI after bacterial identification.
Sotto
A
A
UFR de Médecine, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, ESPRI 26, Nîmes, France.
Lemaire
X
X
Jourdan
N
N
Bouziges
N
N
Richard
J-L
JL
Lavigne
J-P
JP
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D000077727:Ertapenem; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013045:Species Specificity; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D018440:beta-Lactam Resistance; D047090:beta-Lactams / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D047090:beta-Lactams; D000077727:Ertapenem