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Activity of eleven antimicrobial agents against methicillin-, methicillin- and rifampin-resistant Staphylococcus

Chemotherapy
|January 1, 1984
PubMed

Insights

Coumermycin showed the highest activity against resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains. Other agents like vancomycin were also effective against methicillin-resistant St. aureus (MRSA).

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a significant threat due to its resistance to common antibiotics.
  • Emergence of strains resistant to multiple drugs, including rifampin, necessitates the evaluation of alternative antimicrobial agents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the in vitro activity of eleven antimicrobial agents against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and strains resistant to both methicillin and rifampin.
  • To compare the efficacy of different antibiotics in combating resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains.

Main Methods:

  • A microtiter broth dilution technique was employed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of eleven antimicrobial agents.
  • Susceptibility testing was performed on isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and strains resistant to both methicillin and rifampin.

Main Results:

  • Coumermycin demonstrated the most potent activity against all tested resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains.
  • Vancomycin, rifampin, fusidic acid, and N-formimidoyl-thienamycin exhibited excellent activity against MRSA.
  • The antimicrobial susceptibility patterns were comparable between MRSA and strains resistant to both methicillin and rifampin.
  • A small proportion (8%) of MRSA isolates showed resistance to trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole.

Conclusions:

  • Coumermycin is a promising agent for treating infections caused by resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
  • Several established antibiotics retain significant activity against MRSA, but the emergence of multi-drug resistance warrants continued surveillance and development of new therapies.

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