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Current susceptibility patterns of anaerobic bacteria.
1Research Services Veterans Administration Medical Center, West Los Angeles, California 90073, USA. hwexler@ucla.edu
Yonsei Medical Journal
|March 31, 1999
Summary
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing for anaerobic bacteria is declining despite rising resistance. Hospitals should periodically test local isolates to guide effective empiric antibiotic therapy for anaerobic infections.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Pharmacy
Background:
- Increasing antibiotic resistance in anaerobic bacteria poses a significant clinical challenge.
- Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) for anaerobes is decreasing in frequency.
- Anaerobic infections are often polymicrobial, requiring timely and accurate treatment decisions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the declining trend in anaerobic AST.
- To emphasize the importance of local antibiograms for guiding empiric therapy.
- To provide a general guide based on historical data from the Wadsworth Anaerobe Laboratory.
Main Methods:
- Review of historical susceptibility testing data for anaerobic bacteria.
- Analysis of resistance patterns over several years.
- Compilation of general antibiograms for reference.
Main Results:
- Antibiotic resistance among anaerobes is on the rise.
- Routine AST for anaerobes is becoming less common.
- Published antibiograms can guide therapy, but local data is crucial.
Conclusions:
- Hospitals must periodically assess local anaerobic resistance patterns.
- This local data is essential for effective empiric antibiotic selection.
- Economic factors and resource management necessitate careful consideration of routine AST.