Trends in antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial pathogens isolated from patients with bloodstream infections in the USA, Canada and Latin America

From January through June of 1998, 4579 bloodstream infections (BSI) due to bacterial pathogens were reported from SENTRY hospitals in Canada, the USA and Latin America. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia call, and coagulase- negative staphylococcus (CoNS) were the most common pathogens, together acc ounting for 55.2% of all BSI during this time period. Compared with the 579 4 BSI reported from SENTRY from January through June of 1997; no major chan ge was seen in the frequencies of occurrence of the most common bacterial c auses of BSI. Between 1997 and 1998, the major change in antimicrobial resi stance was an increase in oxacillin-resistance in both S. aureus and CoNS i n all regions. These data demonstrate widespread antimicrobial resistance i n Canada, Latin America and the USA, with a notable increase in oxacillin-r esistance among staphylococci. Ongoing surveillance remains essential, and will enhance efforts to limit the scope of this worldwide problem. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. and International Society of Chemotherapy. All right s reserved.