High incidence of meropenem resistance among alpha-hemolytic streptococci in children with cancer.
BACKGROUND
Infections caused by antibiotics-resistant Gram-positive bacteria have been reported from many pediatric hematology-oncology centers.


METHODS
The susceptibility profiles to meropenem, piperacillin, and vancomycin among oral flora isolates of alpha-hemolytic streptococci (AHS) obtained from six children with cancer who received several empirical therapies (ET) against febrile neutropenia, were investigated.


RESULTS
Meropenem minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of AHS isolated from ET patients was 2.167 +/- 0.258 microg/mL (mean +/- SD), which was significantly higher than the MIC of AHS isolated from control groups. Intriguingly, AHS isolated approximately 6 months after hospital discharge indicated recovery of susceptibility to meropenem.


CONCLUSIONS
AHS isolates from neutropenic children with cancer should be checked for antibiotic susceptibility, even against carbapenems.
Department of Pediatrics, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Japan.
Masako
M
Abe
Takehiko
T
Kamijo
Shigeyuki
S
Matsuzawa
Jun
J
Miki
Yozo
Y
Nakazawa
Kazuo
K
Sakashita
Tadashi
T
Okabe
Takayuki
T
Honda
Jun-ichi
J
Mitsuyama
Kenichi
K
Koike
D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D000077731:Meropenem; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D013845:Thienamycins; D000077731:Meropenem