RECENT EXPERIENCE WITH ANTI-MICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY OF ANAEROBIC-BACTERIA - INCREASING RESISTANCE TO PENICILLIN

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  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 57  (12) , 737-741
Abstract
Results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing of anaerobes were reviewed for the last 5 yr and compared with 2 previous surveys. Allowing for differences in methodology, a striking increase in penicillin resistance by the non-fragilis Bacteroides has appeared. Penicillin concentrations of 50 .mu.g/ml were required to inhibit 70% of 43 strains tested. The clinical implications of this observation are not known; isolated reports of therapeutic failure when penicillin was used against the non-fragilis Bacteroides have appeared. Penicillin resistance among Clostridium other than C. perfringens was noted. Several strains of clindamycin-resistant Bacteroides fragilis were observed during the last 2 yr, whether this represents a true increase in resistance will require close scrutiny of clindamycin susceptibility. Future surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility of anaerobic bacteria will be useful in the detection of major changes in susceptibility profiles. This knowledge will potentially affect the choice of antimicrobial agent in patients with serious infections caused by anaerobes.