title: Antimicrobial susceptibility of Neisseria meningitidis strains isolated from meningitis cases in Brazil from 2006 to 2008.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the profile of antimicrobial susceptibility of meningococcal disease isolates collected throughout Brazil from 2006 to 2008 and forwarded to the National Reference Laboratory for Meningitis, Institute Adolfo Lutz - São Paulo.
  
  
  METHODS
  The MIC to penicillin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin and rifampicin was determined in a sample of 1096 (55% of the total isolates received) randomly chosen using the broth microdilution procedure. The breakpoints used were those recommended by the European Monitoring Group on Meningococci (EMGM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Decreased susceptibility to penicillin and ampicillin was detected in 13% and 12.9% respectively. All isolates were susceptible to chloramphenicol, ceftriaxone, and ciprofloxacin. Two strains (0.2%) showed high resistance to rifampicin and 0.5% of the isolates displayed intermediate resistance to rifampicin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The meningococcal strains isolated in Brazil during 2006-2008 were globally susceptible to all antibiotics currently used in treatment or chemoprophylaxis of meningococcal disease in Brazil.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Biology, Bacteriology Department, Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Paulo, Brazil. mcgorla@ial.sp.gov.br
authors.forename: Maria Cecília O
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gorla
authors.forename: Maria Vaneide
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: de Paiva
authors.forename: Vivian C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Salgueiro
authors.forename: Ana Paula S
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Lemos
authors.forename: Angela P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Brandão
authors.forename: Julio A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Vázquez
authors.forename: Maria Cristina C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Brandileone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000494:pharmacology; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012293:Rifampin / Q000494:pharmacology; D012703:Serotyping; D013045:Species Specificity; D055815:Young Adult; D047090:beta-Lactams / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D047090:beta-Lactams; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D002701:Chloramphenicol; D012293:Rifampin