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Trends in Antimicrobial Resistance Among Today's Bacterial Pathogens
Author(s) -
Thornsberry Clyde
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
pharmacotherapy: the journal of human pharmacology and drug therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1875-9114
pISSN - 0277-0008
DOI - 10.1002/j.1875-9114.1995.tb04340.x
Subject(s) - microbiology and biotechnology , antimicrobial , antibiotic resistance , klebsiella pneumoniae , haemophilus influenzae , ampicillin , streptococcus pneumoniae , amp resistance , biology , cephalosporin , drug resistance , staphylococcus aureus , escherichia coli , antibiotics , bacteria , biochemistry , genetics , gene
Resistance of nosocomial and community‐acquired pathogens to antimicrobial agents is a serious problem with significant clinical consequences. Microbiologic surveillance data, such as those provided by the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System, supply information on current nosocomial pathogens in the United States. Many species show resistance to commonly used antimicrobials and, in many cases, it is emerging resistance. Resistance in many gram‐negative bacteria is caused by β‐lactamase production. Escherichia coli , the leading nosocomial pathogen, is capable of hyperproducing TEM‐1 β‐lactamase. A novel form of resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae and E. coli is caused by extended‐spectrum cephalosporinases. Many Enterobacteriaceae can be induced to produce group 1 β‐lactamase by exposure to broad‐spectrum cephalosporins and other β‐lactams. Thirty percent of Haemophilus influenzae isolates are resistant to ampicillin because of β‐lactamase production. Issues of concern in gram‐positive species include multiple antimicrobial resistance in methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus , enterococci, and coagulase‐negative staphylococci, and increasing β‐lactam resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae. To minimize the development of resistance, antimicrobials must be administered judiciously, and infection‐control practices must be instituted and followed.