SURVEILLANCE AND DETECTION OF ERYTHROMYCIN RESISTANCE IN BORDETELLA-PERTUSSIS ISOLATES RECOVERED FROM A PEDIATRIC POPULATION IN THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST REGION OF THE UNITED-STATES

Forty-seven Bordetella pertussis isolates recovered from January 1985 to June 1997 at Primary Children's Medical Center were tested for eryt hromycin resistance. Agar dilution MICs were determined on Regan-Lowe agar. Forty-six isolates were found to be erythromycin susceptible (al l MICs were less than or equal to 0.12 mu g/ml). One isolate was found to be erythromycin resistant (MIC, 32 mu g/ml). In addition, we compa red Etest MIC results and disk diffusion zone diameter measurements, p erformed on commercially prepared Regan-Lowe agar, to the agar dilutio n MIC result. Etest MIC and/or disk diffusion testing on commercial Re gan-Lowe agar appears to be an adequate method for erythromycin resist ance screening of B. pertussis isolates.