E Test Susceptibility Testing of Nosocomial Clostridium difficile Isolates Against Metronidazole, Vancomycin, Fusidic Acid and the Novel Agents Moxifloxacin, Gatifloxacin, and Linezolid.

Leroi, M. J.; Siarakas, S.; Gottlieb, T.

The article focuses on Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea (CDAD). CDAD is an important nosocomial infection that has been associated with the use of a majority of antimicrobial agents. Management of CDAD includes the withdrawal of the predisposing antibiotic and, often, empiric therapy with either oral metronidazole or oral vancomycin. Compared to other nosocomial bacterial pathogens, Clostridium difficle is less frequently tested for acquired resistance, which has resulted in the expectation of practitioners that this pathogen is universally susceptible to antimicrobial agents. However, when tested in one Spanish institution, up to 9% of Clostridium difficile isolates were noted to be metronidazole resistant.

CLOSTRIDIOIDES difficile; ANTI-infective agents; METRONIDAZOLE; VANCOMYCIN; MOXIFLOXACIN; IATROGENIC diseases

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, 2002, Vol 21, Issue 1, p72

0934-9723

Academic Journal

10.1007/s10096-001-0658-0