Susceptibility of clinical isolates to dactimicin and gentamicin

Dactimicin is a new aminoglycoside and its in vitro activity has been compared with that of gentamicin against 100 recent clinical isolates. The minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined by agar dilution. Dactimicin was generally one two-fold dilution step less active or as equally active as gentamicin against enterobacteria and pseudomonas. Dactimicin was several times more active than gentamicin against Acinetobacter and staphylococci. Both compounds share poor activity against enterococci and have a variable effect on other streptococci. They are highly active against serogroup A streptococci and pneumococci.