High incidence of meropenem resistance among alpha-hemolytic streptococci in children with cancer.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Infections caused by antibiotics-resistant Gram-positive bacteria have been reported from many pediatric hematology-oncology centers.

METHODS:

The susceptibility profiles to meropenem, piperacillin, and vancomycin among oral flora isolates of alpha-hemolytic streptococci (AHS) obtained from six children with cancer who received several empirical therapies (ET) against febrile neutropenia, were investigated.

RESULTS:

Meropenem minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of AHS isolated from ET patients was 2.167 +/- 0.258 microg/mL (mean +/- SD), which was significantly higher than the MIC of AHS isolated from control groups. Intriguingly, AHS isolated approximately 6 months after hospital discharge indicated recovery of susceptibility to meropenem.

CONCLUSIONS:

AHS isolates from neutropenic children with cancer should be checked for antibiotic susceptibility, even against carbapenems.

• Authors: Masako Abe, Takehiko Kamijo, Shigeyuki Matsuzawa, Jun Miki, Yozo Nakazawa, Kazuo Sakashita, Tadashi Okabe, Takayuki Honda, Jun-ichi Mitsuyama, Kenichi Koike
• Journal: Pediatrics international : official journal of the Japan Pediatric Society (Pediatr Int) Vol. 51 Issue 1 Pg. 103-6 (Feb 2009) ISSN: 1442-200X [Electronic] Australia
• PMID: 19371287 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Thienamycins
• Meropenem

Topics

• Adolescent
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (pharmacology)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial
• Humans
• Infant
• Infant, Newborn
• Meropenem
• Neoplasms (complications)
• Neutropenia (complications, microbiology)
• Streptococcal Infections (complications, microbiology)
• Streptococcus (drug effects, isolation & purification)
• Thienamycins (pharmacology)