DIFFERENT SUSCEPTIBILITY OF COAGULASE-POSITIVE AND COAGULASE-NEGATIVESTAPHYLOCOCCI TO CIPROFLOXACIN

Ciprofloxacin susceptibility was evaluated in 573 clinical staphylococ cal isolates (Staphylococcus aureus 230, methicillin-resistant (MR) 36 %; coagulase-negative strains 343, MR 66%) collected from 1989 to 1995 . Resistance to ciprofloxacin for MR Staphylococcus aureus was 25% unt il 1991 when ciprofloxacin was introduced into the hospital formulary, and rose progressively to 90% in 1994-1995. MR Staphylococcus haemoly ticus showed a ciprofloxacin resistance of 46% until 1991 and of 73% f rom 1992 to 1995. In contrast MR Staphylococcus epidermidis and other coagulase-negative strains showed a constant susceptibility to this ag ent (80%). Ciprofloxacin has limited usefulness against MR Staphylococ cus aureus but can be still used to treat Staphylococcus epidermidis i nfections.