In Vitro Activity of Newer Fluoroquinolones for Respiratory Tract Infections and Emerging Patterns of Antimicrobial Resistance: Data from the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program

• Published in: Clinical infectious diseases Vol. 31; no. Supplement-2; pp. S16 - S23
• Main Authors: Jones, Ronald N., Pfaller, Michael A.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 01.08.2000; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology; Antibacterial agents; Antibiotic resistance; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antimicrobials; Biological and medical sciences; Cross Infection - drug therapy; Cross Infection - epidemiology; Cross Infection - microbiology; Databases, Factual; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Fluoroquinolones; Gram-Negative Bacteria - drug effects; Gram-Positive Bacteria - drug effects; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Infections; Medical sciences; Pathogens; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pneumonia; Population Surveillance; Registered nurses; Respiratory tract infections; Respiratory Tract Infections - drug therapy; Respiratory Tract Infections - epidemiology; Respiratory Tract Infections - microbiology; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Surveillance; Drug susceptibility test; Respiratory disease; In vitro; Biological activity; Respiratory tract; Antibiotic; Fluoroquinolone derivatives; Sensitivity resistance; Gram positive bacteria; Minimum inhibitory concentration; Microorganism; Antibacterial agent; Clinical isolate; Gram negative bacteria
• ISSN: 1058-4838; 1537-6591
• DOI: 10.1086/314054

In 1997, an international surveillance program, SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program, was initiated with the aim of tracking the emergence of antimicrobial resistance worldwide. Results from reference antimicrobial susceptibility testing of bacterial pathogens (from bloodstream, inpatient and outpatient lower respiratory tract, urinary tract, and skin and soft-tissue infections) were included in an extensive database used to define antimicrobial resistance patterns throughout the world. On the basis of 1997–1999 test results from the Americas, fluoroquinolones continue to demonstrate potent in vitro activity against Enterobacteriaceae and important pathogens (Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and atypicals) that cause community-acquired respiratory tract infections. At published breakpoint concentrations, gatifloxacin, levofloxacin, sparfloxacin, grepafloxacin, trovafloxacin, and ciprofloxacin inhibited ∼100% of H. influenzae isolates, including those that demonstrated resistance to β-lactams and macrolides. Fluoroquinolones were also active against numerous other gram-negative bacilli and demonstrated high activity against S. pneumoniae and β-hemolytic or viridans group streptococci. New fluoroquinolones maintain activity against penicillin-resistant strains of S. pneumoniae, with a low overall resistance in this species, even among the most recent (1999) clinical isolates. The SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program will continue to monitor the antibacterial activity of these newer agents throughout the world, to identify emerging resistant strains and to facilitate possible intervention strategies as these newer compounds are used in the clinic setting.