In Vitro Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of Blastocystis.

Abstract

Blastocystis is the most common human enteric protist with controversial clinical significance. Metronidazole is considered a first-line treatment for Blastocystis infection; however, there has been increasing evidence for the lack of efficacy of this treatment. Treatment failure has been reported in several clinical cases, and recent in vitro studies have suggested the occurrence of metronidazole-resistant strains. In this study, we tested 12 Blastocystis isolates from 4 common Blastocystis subtypes (ST1, ST3, ST4, and ST8) against 12 commonly used antimicrobials (metronidazole, paromomycin, ornidazole, albendazole, ivermectin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole [TMP-SMX], furazolidone, nitazoxanide, secnidazole, fluconazole, nystatin, and itraconazole) at 10 different concentrations in vitro. It was found that each subtype showed little sensitivity to the commonly used metronidazole, paromomycin, and triple therapy (furazolidone, nitazoxanide, and secnidazole). This study highlights the efficacy of other potential drug treatments, including trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and ivermectin, and suggests that current treatment regimens be revised.

• Authors: Tamalee Roberts, Stephen Bush, John Ellis, John Harkness, Damien Stark
• Journal: Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy (Antimicrob Agents Chemother) Vol. 59 Issue 8 Pg. 4417-23 (Aug 2015) ISSN: 1098-6596 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25987633 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Chemical References

• Anti-Infective Agents
• Antiprotozoal Agents

Topics

• Anti-Infective Agents (pharmacology)
• Antiprotozoal Agents (pharmacology)
• Bacteria (drug effects)
• Blastocystis (drug effects, isolation & purification)
• Blastocystis Infections (drug therapy)
• Feces (microbiology)
• Humans