EVOLUTION OF SUSCEPTIBILITIES OF CAMPYLOBACTER SPP TO QUINOLONES AND MACROLIDES

Erythromycin, new macrolides, and quinolones are alternatives for the treatment of Campylobacter infections. Concerns related to the emergen ce of resistance to both groups of drugs have been raised. We studied the evolution of antimicrobial susceptibilities of 275 clinical isolat es of microorganisms of the genus Campylobacter isolated in our instit ution during a 5-year period (1988 to 1992). The microorganisms studie d were C.jejuni (n = 230), C.coli (n = 42), and C.fetus (n = 3). The o verall resistance rates (determined by the agar dilution method and th e recommendations of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory St andards) were as follows: erythromycin, 2.3%; clarithromycin, 2.3%; az ithromycin, 1.9%; ciprofloxacin, 28.5%; norfloxacin, 31%; ofloxacin, 2 6.3%; and nalidixic acid, 36.8%. The evolution of resistance (percent resistance in 1988 versus percent resistance in 1992) was as follows: erythromycin, 2.6 versus 3.1; clarithromycin, 2.6 versus 3.1; azithrom ycin, 2.6 versus 3.1; ciprofloxacin, 0 versus 49.5; norfloxacin, 2.6 v ersus 55.5; ofloxacin, 0 versus 45.6; nalidixic acid, 2.6 versus 56.8. Our data show stable macrolide activity against Campylobacter spp. an d the rapid development of quinolone resistance over the last 5 years.