CURRENT ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY OF CUTANEOUS BACTERIA TO FIRST LINE ANTIBIOTICS

Antimicrobial susceptibility of common bacterial species occurring on human skin appears to be falling. Data for the antimicrobial susceptib ility of major groups of bacteria isolated from human skin during rout ine cultures were complied and analysed over a period of 9 months. Rou tine diagnostics of specimens from skin lesions and normal human skin were analysed for the presence of specified groups of bacteria. The sp ecies were identified using standard methods. Anti-microbial susceptib ility was determined using a broth microdilution system giving breakpo ints, the Sensititre(R) system. Of the 333 Staphylococcus aureus, 129 Streptococcaceae, 180 Enterobacteriaceae and 120 Pseudomonadaceae stra ins investigated more than 5% of Staphylococcus aureus strains were re sistant to flucloxacillin and thus methicillin (MRSA). More than 25% o f Staphylococcus aureus strains were resistant to tetracycline and ery thromycin. Many MRSA strains were found multi-resistant. Gentamicin wa s active against a large majority of Enterobacteriaceae strains but ma ny Pseudomonadaceae strains were resistant. Compared with previous cor responding surveys methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains are clearly on the increase. To prevent a further increase of resista nt strains a defined strategy for antibiotic use is needed in dermatol ogy. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V./International Society of Chemother apy. All rights reserved.