Open AccessCollaborative Evaluation of an Erythromycin-Clindamycin Combination Well for Detection of Inducible Clindamycin Resistance in Beta-Hemolytic Streptococci by Use of the CLSI Broth Microdilution Method
Author(s) -
James H. Jorgensen,
M. Leticia McElmeel,
Letitia C. Fulcher,
Lesley McGee,
Sandra Richter,
Kristopher P. Heilmann,
Mary Jane Ferraro,
Jean Spargo,
Anita Glennen
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of clinical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.349
H-Index - 255
eISSN - 1070-633X
pISSN - 0095-1137
DOI - 10.1128/jcm.00912-11
Subject(s) - broth microdilution , clindamycin , microbiology and biotechnology , erythromycin , beta lactam , streptococcaceae , antibiotics , medicine , biology , minimum inhibitory concentration
Constitutive or inducible clindamycin resistance can occur in beta-hemolytic streptococci due to the presence of anerm gene. The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) has recommended a disk approximation test (D-zone test) with erythromycin and clindamycin disks and a single-well broth test combining erythromycin and clindamycin for detection of inducible clindamycin resistance in staphylococci, but only a disk approximation test for the beta-hemolytic streptococci. This collaborative study assessed two different erythromycin and clindamycin concentration combinations in single wells (1 μg/ml + 0.25 μg/ml [erythromycin plus clindamycin] and 1 μg/ml + 0.5 μg/ml) with three different brands of Mueller-Hinton broth supplemented with 3% lysed horse blood for testing of frozen panels prepared for this study. All labs performed the D-zone test as described by the CLSI. A total of 155 nonduplicate streptococcal isolates (50 group A, 48 group B, 28 group C, and 29 group G isolates) were tested; 99 isolates showed inducible resistance by the D-zone test. There were some differences noted based upon the test medium. The sensitivity of the erythromycin plus clindamycin combination of 1 μg/ml + 0.25 μg/ml was 91 to 100%, while the sensitivity of the combination of 1 μg/ml + 0.5 μg/ml was 95 to 100%. Specificity overall was 98%. The slightly higher sensitivity of the combination of 1 μg/ml + 0.5 μg/ml is recommended. This study has demonstrated that a single-well microdilution test incorporating erythromycin and clindamycin in combination is a sensitive and specific indicator of inducible clindamycin resistance and could be included in routine test panels.