Canadian Pseudomonas aeruginosa susceptibility study from 48 medical centers: focus on ciprofloxacin

We tested 1503 clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, from 48 Canadia n medical centers, against ciprofloxacin and 11 other antimicrobial agents to determine in vitro activity. The frequency of susceptibility was highest for carbenicillin and ticarcillin (91% each) followed by imipenem and ceft azadime (90% each). Overall susceptibility(< 1.0 mg/l) to ciprofloxacin was 84% while resistance (greater than or equal to 4.0 mg/l) was 12%. Ciproflo xacin resistant isolates were more common from urinary tract specimens than from specimens collected from the respiratory and/or skin and soft tissue. Isolates from cystic fibrosis patients were more resistant to all agents t ested than isolates from non-cystic fibrosis patients. (C) 1998 Published b y Elsevier Science B.V. and International Society of Chemotherapy. All righ ts reserved.