[Susceptibilities of Enterococcus faecium, PRSP and MRSA to RP59500 and their correlations with those to other drugs]

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Antimicrobial Resistance
• Clinical Infectious Diseases

Context:

• Emergence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF) is a growing global health concern.
• VREF infections are particularly prevalent in Western countries, prompting investigations in Japan.
• Enterococcal species, including E. faecium, are significant nosocomial pathogens.

Purpose:

• To investigate the prevalence of vancomycin resistance in Enterococcus faecium (VREF) in Japan.
• To evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility of E. faecium, penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to vancomycin (VCM) and RP59500.
• To detect vancomycin resistance genes (van genes) in resistant isolates.

Summary:

• A total of 1,239 E. faecium isolates were collected from 19 Japanese institutions between April 1995 and June 1996.
• Two E. faecium isolates exhibited moderate vancomycin resistance (MIC of 8 µg/mL), although species identification and van gene detection were pending.
• No MRSA or PRSP isolates showed moderate or high resistance to vancomycin. Vancomycin and RP59500 showed favorable activity against E. faecium, PRSP, and MRSA.
• Other enterococcal species, including E. gallinarum, E. casseliflavus, and E. flavescens, displayed moderate vancomycin resistance, with vanC1, vanC2, and vanB genes detected.

Impact:

• This study provides crucial baseline data on VREF prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility in Japan during the mid-1990s.
• Findings highlight the need for continued surveillance of VREF and other resistant bacteria.
• The study underscores the importance of vancomycin and alternative agents like RP59500 in managing infections caused by these pathogens.