key: cord-023592-w96h4rir
authors: nan
title: Abstracts cont.
date: 2015-12-28
journal: Clin Microbiol Infect
DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2004.0902c.x
sha: 
doc_id: 23592
cord_uid: w96h4rir

nan

Objectives: In this study we wanted to examine the prevalence of cagA, vacA and babA2 status in Helicobacter pylori (Hp) isolates from patients with gastritis or peptic ulcer; to compare them and to know if there were any relationships between those virulence factors in each group. Methods: Gastric biopsy specimens from 44 Hp positive patients with peptic ulcer (25 cases) and gastritis (19 cases) were studied. DNA was extracted and PCR performed to detect cagA, vacA s1/ s2 alleles and babA2 gene. Results: Gastritis: In 74% of strains, the expected cagA fragment was amplified by PCR; 68% carried the s1-allele and 32% the s2allele; babA2 gene was detected in 37% of strains. Peptic ulcer: 84% of strains were cagA+; 72% were vacA s1-allele and 28% were vacA s2-allele; babA2 gene was detected in 36% of strains. No significant differences in the prevalence of cagA, vacA or babA2 were found in both groups. Neither of them showed relationship between the presence of babA2 gene and cagA gene or vacA s1/s2-alleles. Conclusions: Although the risk of developing more serious gastric lesions increased as the number of virulence factor genes are accumulated in a given Hp strain, we did not find any significant differences or relationship in the cagA, vacA or babA2 status between the Hp isolates from patients with gastritis or peptic ulcer in this study. A low percentage of babA2 gene was found in both groups.

Helicobacter pylori cells in clinical and wastewater samples P. Piqueres, Y. Moreno, A. Jimenez, J. Hernández, M. Ferrú s Valencia, E Introduction: The presence of viable but non-cultivable Helicobacter pylori cells in environmental samples may underestimate the importance of this way for its transmission. The determination of resistance to antibiotics in these strains is important to a better understanding of the epidemiology of the infection. Objectives: We have evaluated the use of a fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) assay directly from biopsies and wastewater to detect H. pylori and simultaneously its macrolide resistance genotype. Methods: A total of 26 gastric biopsies samples from ulcerpatients were homogenised in 2 mL of selective broth, and a 500 lL aliquot was used for FISH detection. Twenty-nine wastewater samples collected from different treatment plants were centrifuged and subsequently fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde solution for 4 h at 4 C and then washed with 1% PBS buffer. HPY probe, a 16S rRNA targeted FITC-labelled oligonucleotide sequence was used for the detection of all H. pylori strains. In addition to CLA1-3, a set of three CY3-labelled probes was used for the detection of 23S rRNA mutations associated with resistance to clarithromycin. Hybridisation was performed with 35% formamide at 46 C for 2 h. Results: FISH allowed the detection of H. pylori in 20 out of 26 clinical samples and 12 samples were positive in wastewater. The 35% of the positive biopsies showed the presence of clarithromycin resistant strains and 16.6% of the positive wastewater samples yielded resistance genotype to this macrolide. By using a double filter set we could observe directly the clarithromicyn resistant H. pylori organisms in the samples and its morphology in the different types of environments. The predominant cells' morphology in both clinical and wastewater samples was of helicoidal form. Conclusions: The FISH is a specific and rapid culture-independent method to determine directly the presence of clarithromycinresistant H. pylori cells in clinical and environmental samples. Results showed the presence of macrolide resistant cells in water and, therefore, water must be considered a potential route of H. pylori transmission. Acknowledgement: This work was supported by Ministerio Españ ol de Ciencia y Tecnología, Project AGL2002-04480-C03-03. Objectives: Helicobacter pylori is a leading cause of various gastrointestinal diseases such as atrophic gastritis and gastroduodenal ulcer. The cagA gene product CagA is directly injected into the bacteria-attached host cells and deregulates intracellular signalling pathways and thereby initiates pathogenesis. cagA gene is located on pathoginicty island but the function of other genes on the island is unknown. The goal of the work was to evaluate the impact of cag island genotype on the outcome of the therapy. Materials and methods: Three groups of 25 patients each with total number of 75 patients were investigated. First group was taking a typical antibiotic therapy (amoxicillin, claritromycin, rabeprasol), patients in the second group were treated with the same antibiotics together with probiotic Laminolact (E. faecium strain L-3 in the form of bon-bons together with pectin, soy bean amino acids and sea weed), and the third group was taking only Laminolact without any antibiotic. The genotype was determined by PCR with DNA primers against three H. pylori genes ureB, cagA and cagH. cagH was used as a marker cag island integrity and ureB was a marker of H. pylori presence.

Five different genotypes were determined: ureB+,cagAÀcagHÀ, ure+,cagAÀcagH+, ureB+,cagA+cagH+, ureB+,cagAÀcagH+ and ureB+,cagA+cagHÀ . Treatment with antibiotics alone was leading to 68% of eradication. The best eradication percentage (84%) took place in the second group where classical antibiotic treatment was taken together with probiotics. Interestingly, probiotic treatment alone was giving 48% of eradication. Results of the therapy were highly consistent with cag genotype. Patients were found to be statistically less susceptible (P < 0.05) to the therapy in case when the entire cag regulon was present regardless of the therapy used. This fact suggests immunosuppressant function of CagA or other proteins encoded by the genes on cag pathogenicity island. Conclusion: The effect of H. pylori eradication depends on cag pathogenicity island genotype. Probiotics including E. faecium L-3 might significantly improve the anti-H. pylori treatment. screening of P. aeruginosa isolates. This study was done to determine if the P. aeruginosa strains isolated from the cultures of patients hospitalised in the Infectious Diseases Unit were from an individual strain. This technique was preferred because it is cheap and provides a rapid detection opportunity. Methods: 45 samples obtained from the clinical specimens of the patients and from the hands of the staff of the Infectious Diseases Unit were cultured. Of the 45 samples, 15 were isolated from blood, six from sputum, 10 from drainage and 14 from the hands of the medical staff. P. aeruginosa identification was made by API 20NE system. DNA was extracted from the culture material by phenol-chloroform extraction method. AP-PCR was performed by using the primer 5¢-GTT GCG ATCC-3¢, and subjected 8% PAGE. Band patterns were visualised by silver staining. Results: In none of the isolates of the hospital staff P. aeruginosa was cultured. Out of the 31 clinical samples of the patients, 15 different genotypes were determined. Conclusions: The P. aeruginosa strains of the patients were individual strains, neither related to the staff of the department nor to a specific patient. Objectives: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a leading cause of nosocomial infections, particularly pneumonia or sepsis, on intensive care units. Its high intrinsic antibiotic resistance and the ability to develop multidrug resistance pose, especially for critically ill patients, serious therapeutic problems. Since, culture based techniques for pathogen identification and resistance determination requires at least 2 days, a calculated antibiotic therapy may harbour the risk of an increase in antibiotic resistance and therapy failure. Therefore, the development of a fast and reliable identification and antimicrobial susceptibility test is essential for the improvement of the therapy. The aim of the present study was to develop an oligonucleotide-array for a quick, genotypic test of antibiotic susceptibility combined with the determination of relevant virulence factors. Methods: DNA from different clinical specimen was isolated with a modified QIAmp DNA Blood Mini Kit. Template DNA was amplified and simultaneously labelled with Cy3 during multiplex PCR. 146 oligonucleotide capture probes (17-24mer), containing a poly-T(15)-spacer at the 5¢-end, were spotted on epoxy-slides to build an array covering regulatory genes of multidrug efflux pumps (mexR, mexT, nfxB), alginate synthesis (mucA), metallo-beta-lactamases (bla-vim, bla-imp), aminoglycoside modifying enzymes (aac, aad, aph) and virulence factors (exoU, exoS, exoT) . Results: 12 of 15 clinical P. aeruginosa isolates could be correctly genotyped. Three isolates displayed a hybridisation pattern that could be assigned neither to wild-type nor to known mutations. A sequence analysis of these isolates revealed an unknown mutation in mexR and nfxB. Hybridisation with DNA from other non-fermenter or enterobacteriacea showed no crossreactivity. Genotypic resistance profile of P. aeruginosa deduced from the array data correlated fully with the susceptibility pattern obtained by standard tests. The sensitivity of the array was 100 genome equivalent even with an 10exp7-fold excess of non-pseudomonas DNA. The whole analysis, including DNA processing, array hybridisation and data evaluation could be performed in less than 5 h. Conclusions: Due to the good correlation with standard procedures, the Pseudomonas-array may be used for a rapid susceptibility test even directly from clinical samples. Combined analysis of antibiotic resistance and virulence factors may improve the outcome of an antimicrobial therapy. Objectives: Because of a high prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, we conducted a study to assess 60 P. aeruginosa isolates collected over 10 years from the sputa of 38 CF adult patients attending an Italian CF centre. Some phenotypic characters of bacteria (O-serotype, motility, production of enzymes and resistance to antibiotics) and their PFGE genotypic patterns were evaluated to analyse for the presence of epidemic strains. Moreover some sequential isolates collected from 15 CF patients were investigated to look for the chronicisation of the infection.

The strains were identified biochemically. The O-serotype was determined by slide agglutination; the production of enzymes (protease, elastase, gelatinase, haemolysin, betalactamase) and motility were detected using specific techniques. The antibiotic susceptibility was analysed by the Vitek AMS System and disc diffusion method. PFGE was used to discriminate the genotypes of P. aeruginosa. Results: In our hands, O serotyping failed to identify 26.3% of isolates, considering the bacteria collected at the onset of colonisation; the most frequent serotypes were O: 10, O: 6 and O: 3. Moreover, the percentages of protease, haemolysin, gelatinase and elastase production were respectively 78.9, 52.6, 55.3 and 39.5, whereas 42.1% of the microorganisms were non-motile. PFGE allowed the typing of all strains except one. The heterogeneity of isolates indicated that cross-infection is unusual; we also observed in several strains isolated in the last years a predominant pattern. Some CF patients were harbouring the same P. aeruginosa genotype in sequential isolates and the susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics tested varies greatly, also in strains belonging to the same PFGE profile. Conclusion: Our results indicate no relationship between genotype and phenotype suggesting that the phenotypic variability is due to an adaptation of the microorganism to the host. Moreover, the presence of several strains with the same genotypic profile suggests a possible cross-colonisation in CF patients due to the circulation of a transmissible strain.

for Ser/Thr protein kinases and phosphoprotein phosphatase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and analysis of their properties J. Nedvedova, P. Lnenicka, K. Hercik, P. Branny Prague, CZ Objectives: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that causes infections in eye, urinary tract, burn, and immunocompromised patients. Three genetic loci of P. aeruginosa which encodes Ser/Thr protein kinases were identified. Two of them, ppkA and stk1, were also characterised but little is known about their function in cell signalling. Gene stp1 localised upstream of stk1 encodes Stk1 cognate phosphoprotein phosphatase. A possible relationship between quorum sensing and protein phosphorylation in Gram-negative bacteria has already been described. The aim of this work was to prepare unmarked deletion mutants in ppkA, stk1 and stp1 genes and to find out if the linkage between quorum sensing and protein phosphorylation in P. aeruginosa exists.

To prepare the unmarked deletion mutants an improved method for gene replacement in P. aeruginosa which employs a broad-host-range Flp-FRT recombination system for site-specific excision of chromosomally located DNA sequences was used. The phosphorprotein pattern and biochemical properties of the mutants were examined. Double mutant in homoserine lactone synthase genes (lasI and rhlI) was also subjected to phosphoprotein pattern analysis.

Results and conclusion: stk1, stp1 and a double mutant stk1/stp1 were prepared. No differences were found in either biochemical properties or phosphoprotein pattern. Deletion of ppkA gene failed due to the integration of vector into the unknown, but specific site of P. aeruginosa genome. The comparison of phosphoprotein patterns of lasI, rhlI double mutant and wild type strain showed important differences. This result suggested that phosphorylation circuit operating in P. aeruginosa is related to quorum sensing system(s). Objectives: Botulism is a rare but potentially fatal disease generally caused by the neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum. Symptoms of the disease include paralysis which is due to BoNT inhibiting neuro-transmitter release. Laboratory diagnosis of botulism relies on detecting BoNT in clinical or food specimens using in vivo tests. Diagnosis also includes isolation and identification of the bacterium which again relies on in vivo tests for detection of toxin production from the bacterium growing in vitro. We previously described the development of real-time PCR assays for BoNTA, B and E gene fragments, and here presented further evaluation data. Methods: DNA was extracted from faeces, enrichment cultures of naturally contaminated food and clinical samples and from colonies growing on agar plates. TaqMan-based assays for BoNTA, B and E gene fragments were performed using a 7700 Sequence Detector (Applied Biosystems). The assays were performed as a duplex reaction for BoNTA and B using FAM and VIC labelled probes, respectively, and as a monoplex for BoNTE using a single FAM labelled probe. All samples were tested by using the conventional bio-assay and results were compared with real-time PCR assay results. Results: PCR and bio-assay were found to be consistent in all samples except those that contained 'silent B' neurotoxin genes in addition to BoNTA genes. The samples tested comprised: direct examination of six faecal samples, 18 enrichment cultures for six clinical and 12 foods and 34 pure culture growing in vitro. Conclusion: This study is the first to report the successful identification of different C. botulinum toxin types for wild type BoNTA, B and E by using Taq-Man real-time PCR assay. This assay has already provided a useful adjunct to in vivo tests for the rapid identification of bacteria containing BoNT genes in wild type C. botulinum.

(VNTRs) polymorphisms for genotyping 'Rickettsia conorii complex' strains L. Vitorino, R. De Sousa, L. Zé-Zé, F. Bacellar, R. Tenreiro Lisbon, P Introduction: Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF) is an acute, febrile tick transmitted rickettsiosis caused by strains of Rickettsia conorii complex. MSF is endemic in Portugal and is an obligatory notifiable disease. During 1989-2000 the annual incidence rate of the disease was 9.8/105 inhabitants. In Portugal, MSF is caused by two strains: R. conorii Malish and Israeli tick typhus (ITT). This strain was isolated, for the first time in 1997, from a patient. Moreover, data from the National Institute of Health points out that half of MSF cases occurring in Portugal are caused by ITT, showing a similar prevalence of infection as R. conorii Malish. Objective: In this work we present a PCR-based method to detect VNTR sequences that enables amplicon size differentiation between R. conorii Malish and ITT human isolate. VNTRs have a high discriminatory capacity not only because they contain greater diversity but also because they often vary in copy, therefore they are being used for molecular typing of many bacteria species. Methods: Human strains were isolated by Shell-vial technique from patient's total blood. DNA from tick isolates and reference strains were also used for comparative purposes. VNTR loci were identified by the Tandem Repeats Finder software within the R. conorii genome. The VNTR65 locus was selected based on the following criteria: repeat units 50 nucleotides in length, 95% nucleotide sequence identity between individual repeat units, and two or more copies of the repeat unit. Primers flanking this sequence were designed to enable VNTR-PCR amplification. The clinical isolates' identification was also confirmed by ompA gene sequencing. Results: The VNTR sequence chosen was highly informative since it possesses different repeats of the consensus pattern among the strains tested, namely R. conorii Malish and ITT. The former contains five tandem repeats and the later only have three repeats of the 65 bp motif unit, which can be easily detected by agarose gel electrophoresis. Therefore, the polymorphism observed enabled discrimination between these two strains. These results are in agreement with ompA gene sequence. Conclusion: This PCR-based method provides a useful and rapid way for genotyping R. conorii Malish and ITT isolates (R. conorii complex) which are responsible for MSF in Portugal. OmpA and gltA gene amplification are currently the most widely Rickettsiae detection method used. However, strain identification is only accomplished by sequencing.

P733 Monitoring the ability of the human intestinal microflora to become re-established after antibiotic treatment using T-RFLP C. Jernberg, Å . Sullivan, C. Edlund, J. Jansson Huddinge, Stockholm, S Objectives: To study the composition of the human normal faecal microflora during administration of clindamycin and a probiotic or placebo product. Since only a small portion of the faecal flora is cultivable the samples were primarily analysed using a culture independent molecular fingerprinting technique, terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP). Methods: The study included eight healthy volunteers. All subjects received clindamycin orally for 7 days. Four subjects received a probiotic yoghurt concomitantly containing 10 exp 8 CFU/mL of the strains Lactobacillus F19, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFB 1748 and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12. The placebo group received ordinary yoghurt. Faecal samples were taken before the administration (day 0), the last day of administration (day 7) and 14 days after the administration (day 21). The samples were analysed both by conventional cultivation and by T-RFLP. Both universal bacterial primers and Lactobacillus specific primers were used when analysing the samples using T-RFLP. The areas of the different Terminal Restriction Fragments (TRFs), each of which theoretically corresponds to one or a group of closely related species, were used to calculate the relative abundance values for the TRFs. These values were used for Principal Components Analyses (PCA) and UPGMA analyses to compare the microbial flora at the three different time points. Results and conclusions: In the group ingesting the probiotic, the microflora in three out of four subjects became re-established close to their original compositions 2 weeks after antibiotic treatment ceased. By contrast, only one subject out of four in the placebo group had an intestinal microflora that showed tendencies towards normalisation during the same time period. These findings were in accordance with the results from the culture-based analysis. T-RFLP was also used to monitor specific bacterial populations that were either positively or negatively impacted by clindamycin. For example, one of the dominating populations, belonging to the Clostridium coccoides subgroup, was highly negatively impacted by clindamycin administration in all subjects. When using lactobacilli specific primers, L. acidophilus and Lactobacillus F19 were the two dominating populations in the group receiving the probiotic. T-RFLP was shown to be a reproducible technique for analyses of antibiotic and probiotic induced alterations in the normal intestinal microflora.

Campylobacter species using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry D. Dare, H. Sutton, C. Keys, H. Shah, M. Lunt, G. Wells Manchester, London, UK Laser interrogation of bacteria by matrix assisted laser desorption/ ionisation time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) reveals unique fingerprint patterns of biomarkers. These patterns are reproducible for a given set of conditions and can be used as the basis for bacterial identification against a database of known bacterial spectra. Manchester Metropolitan University in collaboration with the Health Protection Agency (UK) and Waters Corporation have created a MALDI-TOF mass spectral database of clinical, environmental and food borne pathogens. These pathogens are all supplied from the UK National Collection of Type Cultures (NCTC). The database spectra are therefore representative of organisms from a world-renowned collection. This database has continued to grow over the last 3 years from the initial 300 to currently over 3000 spectral entries covering $100 different genera. Bacterial identification using this database is often conclusive with the top five matches suggesting the same genera/species. However for identification to be robust, the strains within the database must be well characterised and their identity well established.

For Campylobacter the number of representative strains in the database has increased significantly from around 10 to 170 over 3 years. The species covered within this taxa are: C. coli, C. consicus, C. curvus, C. fetus, C. gracilis, C. helveticus, C. hyolei, C. hyointestinalis, C. jejuni, C. lari, C. rectus, C. sputorum and C. upsaliensis. This study presents the results of analysing the same datasets for 21 Campylobacter strains against the expanding databases containing 300, 1099, 2159 and >3000 mass spectral entries respectively.

The results demonstrate a significant improvement (i.e. 29-100%) in the number of Campylobacter sp. correctly identified as the number of representative strains increase. Therefore MALDI-TOF MS provides a potential rapid identification system for Campylobacter sp.

P735 Application of 23S-5S intergenic spacer sequencing for the detection and molecular differentiation of Legionella species F. Grattard, C. Ginevra, S. Riffard, A. Ros, J. Etienne, B. Pozzetto Saint-Etienne, F Objectives: Among the more than 40 species of Legionella that have been identified so far, 21 have been reported to be pathogenic for humans. By now, the precise identification of clinical isolates in reference laboratories needs the use of monoclonal antibodies or of molecular markers such as 16S rRNA-, mip-, rpoB-or dotA-gene sequencing. We developed a rapid and convenient technique based on the sequencing of the 23S-5S intergenic spacer using nondegenerated primers specific for Legionella spp. Methods: We tested 37 Legionella species (reference and clinical isolates), including 15 serogroups of L. pneumophila subsp. pneumophila. The amplification step was performed by using a real-time PCR (LightCycler, Roche Diagnostics) and sequencing was performed on the Ceq8000 sequencer (Beckman). The comparative analysis of the sequences was done with the computer program MEGA and the dendrograms obtained by the neighbour-joining method. Results: The phylogenic tree of the 23S-5S intergenic spacer sequences was found able to clearly differentiate all Legionella species at the subspecies level. Actually three subspecies of L. pneumophila (subsp. pneumophila, subsp. fraseri and subsp. pascullei) were clearly distinguished. Species sharing the same autofluorescence properties and ubiquinone and fatty acid composition were shown to be phylogenetically related. In addition to rpoB sequen-cing that was shown previously to exhibit similar results, our technique was found able to detect and identify strains present in clinical or environmental specimens that could not be cultured on agar medium. Although this tool was not discriminatory enough to differentiate all strains of L. pneumophila subsp. pneumophila at the serogroup level, it was used in two different outbreaks to demonstrate rapidly the identity of the sequences between strains responsible for severe human infection and those isolated in the hot water reservoir, suggesting a common origin. Conclusion: The 23S-5S intergenic spacer sequencing was found to be suitable for rapid detection and powerful identification of Legionella species in clinical settings. Whipple's disease (WD) is a rare multisystemic bacterial infection, with variable clinical manifestations occasionally involving the central nervous system. As the cultivation of the aetiologic agent, Tropheryma whippelii, is difficult, the laboratory diagnosis is usually based on histological methods. In the last few years, molecular detection of the bacterial 16SrRNS genes by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with two primer sets, has greatly contributed to the diagnosis. We present a cerebral case of WD in a 48-year-old male, successfully diagnosed by PCR of T. whippelii in the blood and the faeces. As far as we know this is the first case reported from Greece. For the diagnosis of WD histological examination of duodenum biopsy for diastase resistant, non-acid fast, periodic acid Schiff (PAS)-positive inclusions in macrophages, and molecular detection of the 16SrRNA genes of by PCR in CSF, blood and faeces were performed. The histological detection was negative. PCR was positive in the blood and the faeces of the patient and negative in the CSF. Seven months after the onset of antimicrobial therapy, PCR was negative in all three clinical specimens. In conclusion, the application of PCR proved to be an invaluable tool for the recognition, the differential diagnosis and the early start of the antimicrobial therapy of WD, a generally fatal disease, if it remains untreated.

Results: Only one clinical isolate had the same API code profile as the reference strain. Fifteen per cent of clinical strains were tested urease positive, as was the reference strain. By fatty acid analysis, clinical isolates could be separated in four different groups (I-IV), containing 77, 98, 5 and 1 isolates, respectively. ATCC 49368 was grouped to group II. Sequences were obtained from three strains of groups I and II, respectively, and from one strain of groups III and IV, respectively.

Comparison of the determined eight sequences with public databases showed the greatest similarity score with C. asperum (X82050.1) with values between 98.7 and 100%. C. asperum and C. amycolatum are considered as synonyms, because they exhibit a level of DNA-DNA relatedness greater than 90% (Ruimy R et al. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1995; 45: 740) . Homology with C. amycolatum ATCC 49368 (X82057.1) was only between 97.1 and 98.3%. Sequencing of the C. amycolatum reference strain yielded 100% homology with the published sequence (X82057.1). Conclusions: Our data confirm the hypothesis that ATCC 49368 is atypical for clinical C. amycolatum strains. Furthermore, our data are in concordance with the observation, that by pyrolysis-gasliquid chromatography C. amycolatum isolates can be separated in two different groups (Voisin S et al. Res Microbiol 2002; 153: 307) .

P738 Detection of mutations associated with resistance to tetracycline and clarithromycin in Helicobacter pylori using the Pyrosequencer A. Lawson, C. Arnold, R. Owen London, UK Objectives: Clarithromycin and tetracycline are key components of H. pylori eradication therapy. Resistance to clarithromycin occurs due to single nucleotide mutations in 16S rDNA and an assay to detect these was amongst the first to be developed for the Pyrosequencer. Recently it has been shown that resistance and reduced susceptibility to tetracycline occur due to single, double or triple mutations in 23S rDNA. The aim of this study was to develop a single multiplex assay using the Pyrosequencer to determine susceptibility to clarithromycin and tetracycline from H. pylori isolates and direct from gastric biopsy samples. Methods: Pyrosequencer assays to detect mutations conferring tetracycline and clarithromycin resistance were designed to work singly and in multiplex. The assays were evaluated using 20 isolates with fully characterised 16S and 23S rDNA sequences. Subsequently, DNA extracts from 30 clinical isolates and 20 H. pyloripositive human gastric biopsies -all of unknown antibiotic susceptibility -were examined and the results compared with those achieved by conventional culture-based techniques, namely antibiotic disc diffusion and Etest. Results: The Pyrosquencer multiplex assay correctly determined the 16S and 23S rDNA sequences of the 20 characterised control isolates. When applied to DNA extracted from clinical isolates and gastric biopsy samples, the Pyrosequencer assay was in agreement with the clarithromycin and tetracycline susceptibilities determined by culture-based analysis. Conclusion: The Pyrosequencer assay allowed rapid determination of clarithromycin and tetracycline susceptibility from both H. pylori isolates and gastric biopsy samples. The sequence data obtained for the mutations occurring in each strain may provide useful epidemiological information and guide patient management. diseases. The aim of this prospective pilot study was to detect IgA, IgG and anti-CagA antibody status and to evaluate the correlation with anti-H. pylori IgA, IgG Western blot and ELISA tests in adult dyspeptic patients. Methods: Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, two from gastric antrum and two from corpus, was performed in 56 patients (mean age AE46.41) with dyspeptic symptoms. H. pylori was assessed by rapid urease test and by histopathologic examination in these biopsy specimens. Patients' sera were tested by anti-H. pylori IgA, IgG Western blot, IgA, IgG ELISA and anti-CagA-IgA, IgG ELISA (EUROIMMUN Medizinische Labordiagnostika, Lü beck) tests. Results: A total of 56 patients were evaluated and H. pylori infection was diagnosed in 48 (85.71%) patients by rapid urease test and/or histopathology. Serological anti-H. pylori test results were shown as below (Table 1) . Twenty-eight (50%) of 56 adult dyspeptic patients sera were positive for anti-CagA-IgG ELISA and 17 (30.35%) were positive for anti-CagA-IgA ELISA.

Conclusion: Infection with H. pylori results in the production of local and systemic antibodies. Cag A is the important pathologic marker with high immunogenic power. A set of serological tests may give more accurate determination of H. pylori infection than one test detecting specific antibody or bacterial antigen. It seems that there is a good correlation with Western blot and ELISA test results and gold standards. Acknowledgement: This work was supported by EUROIMMUN Medizinische Labordiagnostika, Lü beck, Germany.

P740 Susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori isolates to the anti-adhesion activity of a high-molecular-weight constituent of cranberry H. Shmuely, O. Burger, I. Neeman, J. Yahav, Z. Samra, Y. Niv, N. Sharon, E. Weiss, M. Tabak, A. Athamna, I. Ofek Petach Tiqva, Haifa, Rehovot, Jerusalem, Kfar Qaraa, Tel Aviv, IL Background: Previous studies have shown that a high molecular mass non-dialysable constituent derived from cranberry juice inhibited the adhesion of Helicobacter pylori to human gastric mucus and to human erythrocytes. The aim of the present study was to determine the sensitivity of a large number of both antibiotic-resistant and susceptible clinical isolates of H. pylori to the anti-adhesion effect of the cranberry constituent. Material and methods: Confluent monolayer of gastric cell line in wells of a microtitre plate was exposed to bacterial suspensions prepared from 83 H. pylori clinical isolates, including 17 from patients after treatment failure. Adhesion was estimated by the urease assay to calculate the percent inhibition of adhesion by the non-dialysable material. Antibiotic susceptibility of H. pylori isolates to metronidazole, tetracycline and amoxicillin were tested by the Etest. Results: In two-thirds of the isolates, adhesion to the gastric cells was inhibited by 0.2 mg/mL of the non-dialysable material. All isolates were susceptible to amoxicillin and tetracycline and 35 isolates (42%) were resistant to metronidazole. There was no relationship between the anti-adhesion effect of the cranberry material and the resistance to metronidazole in isolates from either the antibiotic-treated or untreated patients. Most important, only 13 isolates (16%) were resistant to both non-dialysable material and metronidazole and 30 isolates (36%) were resistant to the non-dialysable material alone. No cross-resistance of the isolates to cranberry constituent and metronidazole was found. Conclusions: The data suggest that a combination of antibiotics and a cranberry preparation may improve the eradication of H. pylori. Methods: For the seroprevalence study a total of 1041 people of different states from the country were evaluated: 370 symptomatic and 406 asymptomatic adults; 27 symptomatic and 238 asymptomatic children. The determination of specific IgG antibodies was made by commercial ELISA. The presence of the gene cagA was evaluated in 133 patients of the metropolitan area and the Center of Gastric Cancer Control of San Cristó bal (endemic zone of gastric cancer). The detection of VacA was determined in 29 biopsy from patients of San Cristó bal and 36 biopsy from patients of the metropolitan area. The biopsies were analysed by different methods for diagnosis of H. pylori: culture, urease test, polymerase chain reaction and RAPDS for genotyping the H. pylori isolates.

Results: The percentage of asymptomatic children with values of specific IgG antibodies anti-H. pylori (over 300 U) varies from 30 to 60% (Metropolitan area vs. San Cristó bal). In symptomatic adults groups, the seroprevalence was between 68 and 93% according to the studied geographic area. A decreased title of IgG antibodies anti-H. pylori was observed in patients with diffuse antral gastritis associated with metaplasia type II. In the group of endemic cancer area the titles of IgG anti-Hp were elevated in patients with antral diffuse gastritis. The cagA gene was detected in 46% of patients of the Metropolitan Area unlike the group of patients of San Cristó bal a smaller frequency was observed (26.41%) (P < 0.001). A high incidence of S1a and m2 genotype was observed in the H. pylori isolated from the patients of endemic gastric cancer area (40%), unlike what we observed in the metropolitan H. pylori isolates where an elevated prevalence of S1b and m1 genotypes was found. samples from gastric antro. No current resident in our area and patients treated previously with eradicated therapy have been excluded. Samples were homogenised and cultured in blood-agar, chocolate-agar, pylori-agar and tioglicolate broth. It was incubated to 37 C in microaerofile atmosphere during 5-7 days. We studied the susceptibility to: amoxicillin (Am), claritromicin (Ch), metronidazole (Mz), tetracycline (Te) and ciprofloxacin (Cp) by detection of IMC by E-test (Biodiskâ). We have followed NCCLS criteria for antibiogram lecture. Results: From 148 samples, 60 were males and 88 females. We found the follow primary resistance; Ch 16 (10.8%), Mz 52 (35.1%), Te 8 (5.4%), Am 2 (1.4%), Cp 23 (15.5%) and 10 samples (6.8%) with a mix resistance to CH and Mz. Ch and Mz resistance are more common in females, but the difference is only statistically significant for Mz (P: 0.037).

Conclusions: There is a progressive increased antibiotic resistance in H. Pylori in our area. This may be related with a raised used of antibiotics for other indications. CH resistance data agree with other Spanish and multicentre European studies, which show a foremost rate in the Mediterranean area. The Mz resistance is higher than other Spanish works. Our high prevalence of resistance supports the idea of avoiding imidazol therapy as primary choice treatment.

P743 The prevalence and consequences of antibiotic resistance in Danish H. pylori strains isolated with an interval of 10 years

Objectives and Background: The treatment of H. pylori (HP) infections is complex and the use of combination therapy is imperative. The choice of the antibiotics is often made exclusively on empirical basis although resistance to many therapeutically relevant antibiotics has been described. The mainstay of HP treatment in Denmark is various combinations of normally two of the following antibiotics: metronidazole, amoxicillin, tetracycline and clarithromycin. To clarify whether these compounds were to remain the drugs of choice we decided to determine the susceptibilities of metronidazole, clarithromycin, tetracycline, and amoxicillin against 180 HP strains recently isolated from patients with duodenal ulcer. The results were compared with results previously obtained by us in 1993 using a similar methodology. Over a period of 10 years only the development of resistance to metronidazole appears to constitute a problem. Otherwise HP has remained remarkably susceptible to these therapeutically relevant antibiotics. On the basis of our results we recommend that surveillance of especially metronidazole resistance in Denmark is markedly intensified, e.g. by increasing the use of diagnostic methods of HP infections that allow susceptibility testing. In cases where treatment with metronidazole is considered, susceptibility testing is of course of major importance, if not downright necessary. Objectives: Helicobacter pylori is the main causative agent of peptic ulcer disease. Clarithromycin resistance of H. pylori is the common reason of failure of the eradication therapy, which includes amoxicillin-clarithromycin and proton pomp inhibitor. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of clarithromycin resistance among H. pylori strains isolated from gastric biopsies obtained during routine endoscopies at the Baskent University Medical Faculty in Ankara, Turkey. Methods: H. pylori strains were isolated from antral biopsy specimens taken from dyspeptic patients. Antibiotic susceptibilities of the isolates to clarithromycin were performed using the NCCLS approved agar dilution and the E test methods. Results: 78 H. pylori isolates were included in the study. Clarithromycin resistance was found in 16 (20.5%) of the isolates. The resistance rates were similar by the E test and agar dilution methods. Conclusion: The percentage of the clarithromycin resistance among H. pylori strains in our population is significantly high. This information is important to monitoring the eradication therapy and defines regional treatment policies. Introduction: Helicobacter pylori has been the subject of many studies that contributed to a better understanding of its epidemiology and its clinical importance in the pathology of the upper gastrointestinal tract, being an important cause of duodenal, gastric ulcers and a definite cause of gastric adenocarcinoma in human. Objectives: to determine the seroprevalence of H. pylori among population living in rural community, in relation to the epidemiological aspect, and to study the seroprevalence of anti-CagA as a virulence factor in a step that might be helpful in studying the magnitude of H. pylori infection. Also, to determine a cut-off value among the population in this community. Subjects and methods: This is a community based, field study which was performed on 605 randomly chosen subjects representing villagers of eight villages in Giza governorate Egypt. Serological testing for anti-H. pylori and anti-Cag A were performed by ELISA.

Results: The overall seroprevalence of anti-H. pylori IgG was 91.7% with different degrees of positivity: 40.8% mild, 39.2% moderate and 11.7% high. Anti-Cag A was present in 10.6%. There was a significant agreement between the presence of the two antibodies; however, on studying the relation of anti-H. pylori IgG level with anti-CagA no statistically significant relation was found denoting that the level of infection even if mild does not rule out the possible association of virulent strain of H. pylori. No age or sex difference was noted as regards anti-H. pylori seropositivity but subjects seropositive for anti-Cag A had a statistically significant higher mean age. When relating the seroprevalence of anti-H. pylori to type of community, it was found to be the same in semi-rural communities and rural ones and when investigating the respective conditions in both communities it was found that the prevalence is rather related to pattern of life, socioeconomic status and to other possible vehicle of transmission as animals or flies than faecaly contaminated water which is not considered the only vehicle for H. pylori transmission in our study. Conclusion: H. pylori is holoendemic in Egypt; however, infection by virulent strains is not common. Objectives: Extended-spectrum beta lactamases (ESBLs) are an increasing cause of resistance in Enterobacteriaceae. Unfortunately, the laboratory detection of ESBLs can be complex and, at times, misleading. The aim of this study was to determine whether routine methods performed in a clinical microbiology laboratory of a tertiary care Hospital, are adequate for detecting emerging ESBL producing clinical isolates. Methods: To evaluate the ESBL confirmation protocol, we collected 29 Enterobacteriacae strains, isolated in our Laboratory. Each isolate met the NCCLS screening criteria for potential ESBL producers (ceftazidime or cefotaxime MICs were !2 for all isolates). We tested 13 Kl. pneumoniae, five Ent. cloacae, two Ent. aerogenes, five E. coli and four Pr. mirabilis strains, by methods routinely used in our laboratory. Initially, the isolates were tested for clavulanic acid effect by disk diffusion method and all were analysed by the Vitek2 automated system (bioMerieux, France), which performs a susceptibility testing, by determining the MIC breakpoints. The Advanced Expert System (AES) of Vitek2 was set on the phenotypic resistance knowledge-based system and the panel GN020 was used. In parallel, the isolates were tested by the ESBL E-test with ceftazidime and cefotaxime plus beta lactamase inhibitor (AB, Biodisk, Sweden). In order to confirm the ESBL production, all strains were tested by isoelectric focusing (IEF) followed by PCR for blaTEM, blaSHV, blaOXA, blaIBC and blaCTX genes.

Results: Twenty-one out of 29 isolates proved to produce ESBLs by molecular methods. All Enterobacter strains and one Proteus mirabilis were not ESBL producers. No blaOXA or blaIBC genes were detected. The PCR detection of ESBL genes results were compared with the double disk diffusion, Vitek2 and ESBL E-test to estimate the sensitivity, specificity and the predictive value of the methods tested. The sensitivity of the methods was 84.6, 85.7 and 70.5%, respectively, the specificity 62.5, 87.5 and 66.6%, respectively, and the predictive value 64.7, 93.3 and 75%, respectively. Discussion: Given the increasing incidence of ESBL producing clinical isolates, it is important that ESBL screening is incorporated into routine diagnostic testing. The backup of the simple disk diffusion method by the automated Vitek2 system increases the possibility of identifying ESBL activity of clinical strains in the Hospital Microbiology Laboratory setting. Objectives: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) are plasmid-mediated beta-lactamases and most of them are mutant of TEM or SHV beta-lactamases. ESBLs have been associated with clinical failures due to serious interpretive problems of standard laboratory tests. Detection of ESBLs remains a challenge for the laboratory, since routine tests for monitoring a susceptibility to oxyimino-cehalosporins and aztreonam have not been sensitive enough to detect ESBL strains and require up to 2 days. We describe an oligonucleotide array for rapid identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the ESBL TEM beta-lactamases. Methods: Plasmid DNA was amplified and Cy5 labelled during PCR with consensus primer pair flanking the blaTEM gene. Oligonucleotide arrays were constructed with 168 oligonucleotide capture probes. The probes were designed with the SNP at the central base of the probe sequence for maximum perfect match/ mismatch discrimination. Results: 40 of 41 SNP positions were correctly identified. The signal intensity values ranged up to 20 000 for the perfect match probes. The discriminatory power of the array expressed as relative intensity of mismatches (RIMM) remained for 99% of the mismatches below 0.4. A perfect match was considered as correctly identified, if RIMM did not exceed 0.7. Analysis of the array reproducibility revealed that in analysed blaTEM-1 samples all 41 SNP positions could be identified. The mean RIMM values varied, but 95% remained below 0.4. In DNA isolated from clinical samples all mismatches in blaTEM were identified without ambiguity, and 91% of them remained below the RIMM limit. Since the reduction of the array-hybridisation time to 30 min had no influence on RIMM (RIMM limit less than 0.6 for 95% mismatch positions), the assay may be performed within 3.5 h while keeping its discriminatory power. Conclusion: The blaTEM gene variants could be amplified by the use of a single consensus primer pair. Using DNA-array we were able to discriminate SNPs in 102 of the 106 TEM variants. SNP mismatches could be analysed by array within 3.5 h enabling the identification of the corresponding ESBLs or inhibitor resistant TEMs.

the NCCLS recommendations. The production of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) was detected by double diffusion test. The presence of blaTEM gene was determined by PCR method. Transferability of resistance determinants was studied by bacterial conjugation. Results: 70.5% of the clinical isolates were resistant to ampicillin (AMPI); 76.5% to cefoxitine (CFOX); 55.8% to cefotaxime (CTAX); 55.8% to ceftazidime (CTAZ); 41.2% to ceftriaxone (CIAX); 14.7% to cefepime (CEPI); 58.8% to azthreonam (AZTR); 5.8% to meropenem (MERP); 53.0% to gentamicin (GEN); 41.0% to tobramycin (TOB); 8.8% to netilmicin (NET); 5.8% to amikacin (AMI); 8.8% to isepamicin (ISE); 55.8% to ciprofloxacin (CIP). A total of 61.8% of clinical isolates were identified as ESBL producers. The presence of blaTEM gene coding for TEM-type beta-lactamases was detected in 82.4% of clinical isolates tested. Resistance determinants to all antibiotics tested, with only one exception of MERP, were transferable by bacterial conjugation to the recipient strain Escherichia coli K-12 3110. Frequency of transfer ranged from 7.1 Â 10 À9 to 1.2 Â 10 À1 . Conclusions: The occurrence of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics was very high. The most efficient beta-lactams were the carbapenem meropenem and the fourth-generation cephalosporin cefepime. Aminoglycoside antibiotics netilmicin, amikacin and isepamicin had high efficiency, too. On the other hand, more than one half of the clinical isolates tested were resistant to the fluoroquinolone ciprofloxacin. Beta-lactam resistance was due to the production of ESBL and to the presence of the bla-TEM gene in the majority of clinical isolates. Transferability of beta-lactam and aminoglycoside resistance determinants by bacterial conjugation is important from the epidemiological point of view. Objectives: Today there are very few significant data on the effectiveness of cephalosporin antibiotics in nosocomial infections caused by the microorganisms producing ESBL. Methods: The cases of nosocomial infections caused by Enterobacteriaceae with a proved ESBL production were analysed. ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae strains were assayed for susceptibility to different antimicrobials and MICs were determined by a broth microdilution method. To determine molecular typing of ESBL genes polymerase chain reactions and sequencing reactions were used. Patients received initial empiric intravenous antibacterial therapy with third-generation cephalosporin (cefotaxime). In case of failure cefepime 4 g a day was prescribed. Results of those infections treatment with third-and fourth-generation cephalosporins were assessed depending on MIC.

Results: ESBL production with specific SHV and CTX oligonucleotids was proved for six strains of Enterobacteriaceae in four patients with nosocomial pneumonia (in two cases mixed infection took place), among them four strains were Klebsiella spp. and two strains E. coli. The analysis of the dependence of MIC on the results of the treatment gave the following results (Table  1) . It may be stated that with the proved Enterobacteriaceae ESBL production MIC values for third-generation cephalosporins of the majority of strains were within the resistance range (more than 32 lg/mL), and these antibiotics were not effective in all cases. As for cefepime, MIC showed intermediate sensitivity (32 lg/mL) to the drug only in 33.3% cases; the rest of the strains (MIC ¼ 1-8 lg/mL) were sensitive. The therapy with cefepime was effective in three of four patients. , À9/9a (n ¼ 4), À1 (n ¼ 3), À3/À22 (n ¼ 2) and À2/ 20 (n ¼ 1). Conclusions: (i) Using MIC breakpoint >1 mg/L for reduced susceptibility to third-generation cephalosporins we detected ESBLproducing E. coli and K. pneumoniae with low MIC-values (0.5-2 mg/L). (ii) Cefotaxime-hydrolysis was the dominating profile in ESBL-positive E. coli strains whereas ceftazidime was the most sensitive substrate for detection of ESBL-production in K. pneumoniae. (iii) The different methods showed almost the same sensitivity in detecting ESBL production assuming that more than one substrate was used, i.e. both cefotaxime and ceftazidime. (iv) CTX-M was the dominating ESBL-type. Objectives: During 2003, the SRMD received isolates of Escherichia coli for confirmation of ESBL production with a phenotype implying a CTX-M-type beta-lactamase, i.e. cefotaxime (CTX) MICs fourfold greater than ceftazidime (CTZ) MICs. Isolates were from hospital patients and, in some instances, from community patients with little or no recent hospital contact. TEM-and SHV-type ESBLs are largely confined to nosocomial isolates, so the apparent spread of CTX-M enzymes in the community is cause for concern. We compared the isolates and investigated the genetic basis of their CTX-M phenotype. Methods: Isolates were compared by PFGE of XbaI-digested genomic DNA and data were analysed using BioNumerics software. MICs were determined by Etest or agar dilution, and interpreted using BSAC breakpoints. Isolates with a CTX-M phenotype were tested for blaCTX-M alleles by PCR, initially with universal primers, and then with primers specific for various blaCTX-M groups. Selected amplicons were sequenced, either directly or after cloning into pCR2.1. Transfer of CTX-M to E. coli J62 was attempted in broth and on agar plates. Results: Over 100 CTX-M-producing E. coli were obtained from more than 20 UK centres. These isolates represented multiple strains, although clusters of related isolates (>80% similarity) were observed, some including isolates from more than one centre. Sequencing confirmed that 12 E. coli from 11 different centres all produced CTX-M-15. Most isolates had substantial resistance to CTX (MICs >128 mg/L) and CTZ (MICs >16 mg/L), consistent with CTX-M-15. Isolates (n ¼ 25) associated with a large community cluster produced atypically large amplicons with group I CTX-M primers, as did two related isolates from another centre. These isolates were less resistant to CTX (MICs 16-64 mg/L) and CTZ (MICs 1-4 mg/L), and susceptible to gentamicin; sequencing of a representative isolate identified IS26 within the terminal inverted repeat of the ISEcpI element upstream of blaCTX-M-15, separating the allele from its usual promoter, and the spacer between ISEcpI and blaCTX-M-15 had a T/C polymorphism not seen in other sequenced isolates. We studied also antimicrobial sensitivity of the strains, co-resistance to non-beta-lactam antimicrobials and relationship with antibiotic use. Methods: Data of monthly non-duplicate EBSL-EC and antibiotic use (hospital: DDD/1000 pat-day and community: DDD/ 1000 inhabitants-day) were collected for January 1999 to October 2003. Time Series Dynamic Regression models were adjusted to evaluate the relationship between the use of antimicrobials and the emergence of the bacteria. Sensitivity testing was determined by microdilution with Gram-negative and Urine panels (MicroScanâ). ESBL producing strains were initially selected by screening with MicroScanâGram-negative and Urine panels (MIC >1 lg/mL for cefotaxime, ceftazidime or aztreonam, and/or a difference of three or more dilutions between ceftazidime and ceftazidime with 2 lg/mL of clavulanic acid . On univariate analysis only connective tissue disease (P < 0.003), genitourinary pathology (P < 0.008), infections in the past year (P < 0.007) and previous exposure to second-generation cephalosporins (P < 0.001) were factors associated with CA infection due to ESBL Ec. In our regression model, only previous exposure to secondgeneration cephalosporins was strongly associated (OR 18.25, . Conclusions: In the last 3 years there has been a marked increase in infections due to ESBL Ec, especially from the community. Only previous exposure to second-generation cephalosporins (not to ciprofloxacin, third-generation cephalosporins or aminoglycosides) was predictive of an ESBL Ec CA infection. Strikingly, neither comorbidity nor previous contact with the Healthcare System was risk factors for ESBL Ec. Enzymes of the CTX-M family are currently classified as extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs). Over the last decade, CTX-M-type enzymes have been increasingly reported from several countries in Europe. The aim of this study was to search for CTX-M-type enzymes in Escherichia coli isolates obtained at our Institution (Varese, Northern Italy). Methods: We studied consecutive E. coli isolates recovered over a 2-year period (2000) (2001) (2002) . Stains suspected of producing ESBLs (according to NCCLS criteria) were further investigated. The double-disk synergy test and Etest ESBL strips (AB Biodisk, Solna, Sweden) were used to confirm ESBL production. The Etest method was also used to evaluate MICs of amikacin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, and beta-lactams (including last-generation cephalosporins, carbapenems, and aztreonam). ESBL-positive isolates were evaluated for the presence of CTX-M-type genes using specific DNA probes. Patient records were examined to assess risk factors for infections and underlying clinical conditions. Results: A total of 12 386 consecutive E. coli isolates were studied. Overall, 26 out of 124 ESBL-positive strains were found to carry a CTX-M-type gene and to produce a CTX-M-type enzyme. Most isolates (21/26) showed high MIC values for cefotaxime (>32 mg/L) and borderline values for ceftazidime (1-2 mg/L). The remaining five isolates had also high MICs for ceftazidime. CTX-M-positive isolates were obtained both from inpatients (n ¼ 17) and outpatients (n ¼ 9). Epidemiological analysis showed that most strains were isolated from urinary tract infections, even though some isolates were recovered from the lower respiratory tract, wounds and blood. Most patients (20/26) were treated with immunosuppressive therapy. Recurrent urinary infections occurred in five outpatients. Conclusions: CTX-M-type enzymes appear to be emerging among E. coli isolates in both the hospital and community environments. The analysis of clinical records demonstrated that these microorganisms can cause severe and persistent infections. Therefore, despite the currently low prevalence of CTX-M phenotype, we suggest that a monitoring of this resistance phenotype should be established to avoid the spreading of resistance traits. Background and Objectives: Class C beta-lactamases (CBLs) are enzymes that confer broad-spectrum beta-lactam resistance (including penicillin, expanded-spectrum cephalosporins, and cephamycins) and are poorly or not susceptible to commercially available beta-lactamase inhibitors. In strains with reduced outer membrane permeability, they can also provide resistance to carbapenems. A number of these enzymes are chromosomally encoded, but plasmid-mediated CBLs are also known as a cause of acquired resistance to expanded-spectrum cephalosporins and cephamycins in clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae. In Italy, only the FOX-3 acquired CBL has previously been reported, in Klebsiella spp. In this work we report the first detection of acquired CBLs of the CMY-LAT lineage in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates from an Italian hospital. Methods: Ten consecutive non-replicate clinical isolates of E. coli (eight) and K. pneumoniae (two) resistant to expanded-spectrum cephalosporins and cephamycins were collected, during 2002, at the Laboratory of Microbiology of the S. Matteo Hospital of Pavia (northern Italy). In vitro susceptibility testing was determined by a microdilution method according to NCCLS. Beta-lactamase production was investigated by analytical isoelectric focusing (IEF) coupled with a bio-assay. Molecular characterisation of beta-lactamase genes was carried out by a multiplex PCR approach designed for detection of all major lineages of acquired CBLs genes, and by sequencing. Transferability of resistance genes was tested by mating assays in liquid medium. Results: Two isolates, one of E. coli and one of K. pneumoniae, were found to be resistant to expanded-spectrum cephalosporins, except for cefepime, and cephamycins (cefoxitin MICs >128 mg/L). Both isolates produced a beta-lactamase of pI >8.4 that showed hydrolytic activity against cefoxitin, cefotaxime and ceftazidime. Molecular characterisation revealed, in both cases, the presence of an acquired CBL gene of the CMY-LAT lineage, which was compatible with blaCMY-2/LAT-3 (the leader peptide-encoding region was not sequenced). The CBL determinant was transferable by conjugation from the E. coli isolate, while conjugal transfer was not detected from the K. pneumoniae isolate. Conclusions: These findings reveal that acquired CBLs of the CMY-LAT lineage, which are the most common acquired CBLs, can also be encountered in nosocomial settings from northern Italy.

Enteropathogens P764 Dissemination of sulphonamide resistance genes: first sul3 found in Salmonella from Portugal P. Antunes, J. Machado, J.C. Sousa, L. Peixe Porto, Lisbon, P Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution of sulphonamide resistance genes sul1, sul2 and sul3 and class 1 integrons in Portuguese Salmonella isolates collected during 2002-2003, from human and nonhuman sources. Methods: Eight hundred and seventy-five isolates were tested for resistance to 10 antimicrobial agents by the agar dilution method. Sulphonamide resistant isolates were screened for resistance genes sul1, sul2, and sul3 and class 1 integrons by PCR assays.

Results: Resistance was found in 54% and multiresistance in 21% of the isolates. In 151 (17%) sulphonamide-resistant isolates (MICs 512 mg/L), 118 (78%) sul1 genes, 57 (38%) sul2 genes and nine (6%) sul3 genes were detected. In 29 isolates, more than one gene encoding sulphonamide resistance was present: sul1 and sul2 in 22, sul1 and sul3 in three and sul1, sul2 and sul3 in four. Class 1 integrons were found in 77% of those isolates. Among the 116 isolates carrying class 1 integrons, 114 presented sul1 gene, found alone (87 isolates) or simultaneously with sul2 (20) or sul3 (3) and with sul2 and sul3 (4). The two strains with class 1 integrons, which lacked the qacED1 and sul1 genes, carried a sul3 gene. Of the 118 sul1-positive isolates, 114 harboured class 1 integrons. Conclusion: Class 1 integrons and sulphonamide resistance genes are widespread among Salmonella. The newly described sul3 gene has now been identified in nine Salmonella isolates collected from human and nonhuman sources in Portugal.

Salmonella from Portugal P. Antunes, J. Machado, J.C. Sousa, L. Peixe Porto, Lisbon, P Objectives: The aim of this study was the characterisation of betalactamase production in Portuguese Salmonella isolates collected during 2002-2003, from human and non-human sources. Methods: Eight hundred and seventy-five isolates were tested for resistance to 10 antimicrobial agents by the agar dilution method. A double-disk synergy test for the detection of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase production was performed by disk diffusion method. The identification of beta-lactamases was done in ampicillin resistant isolates by IEF and PCR assays, with primers, which detects genes encoding TEM, PSE-1 and OXA group III enzymes. To evaluate the association of beta-lactamase genes to class 1 integrons, 50CS-30CS primers were used in a PCR assay. PCR products were purified and both strands sequenced. Results: In total, 17% of the isolates exhibited resistance to ampicillin, with MICs 64 mg/L. Resistance to ampicillin was conferred by a TEM-1 beta-lactamase in 99 (68%) of the isolates, PSE-1 in 37 (25%) and OXA-30 in nine isolates. It is to be noted that there is the detection of the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) TEM-52 in one isolate. The TEM-type beta-lactamases was not associated with class 1 integrons. In contrast, all the blapse-1 and blaoxa-30 genes were inserted in 1200 and 2000 bp class 1 integrons, respectively. Conclusion: A considerable percentage of Portuguese Salmonella were resistant to beta-lactams, mostly due to the production of TEM-1 like beta-lactamase and PSE-1 inserted in integrons. The detection of an isolate that produce an ESBL, such as TEM-52, and nine isolates carrying a class 1 integron with OXA-30, are causes of concern due to the possible therapeutic failures with broad-spectrum beta-lactams.

P766 Increasing incidence of Salmonella typhii with reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin in Kuwait A.A. Dashti, P.W.J. West, D. Panigrahi Suleibikhat, KWT Objectives: To determine the current incidence of reduced ciprofloxacin susceptibility in Salmonella typhi, to compare with previous data and to investigate the mechanism responsible. Methods: 48 isolates of S. typhi collected in 2002-2003 were tested for susceptibility to ciprofloxacin and other antibiotics using the Vitek 2 and E-test. Isolates showing reduced ciprofloxacin susceptibility were subjected to PCR to determine if a mutation of the gyrA gene was responsible. PCR was carried out using two primers (ATGAGCGACCTTGCGAGAGAAATTACACCG) and (TTCC-ATCAGCCCTTCAATGCTGATGTCTTC). Results were compared with those for isolates collected from 1995-1997. Results: 18 out of 48 (42%) of the isolates were resistant to multiple antibiotics, including ampicillin, chloramphenicol tetracycline and trimethoprim. Of these 12 (67%) showed resistance to nalidixic acid and reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin (MIC 0.125-0.38 mg/L). Of the 30 susceptible isolates, seven (23%) showed reduced ciprofloxacin susceptibility. Isolates from 1995 to 1997 showed 11% of 53 multi-resistant strains, but none of 100 susceptible isolates with reduced ciprofloxacin susceptibility. PCR results showed mutations of the gyrA gene. Conclusion: Reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin in multi-resistant S. typhi has increased from 11% in 1995-1996 to 67% in 2002-2003 and from 0 to 23% in susceptible strains. Mutation of gyrA is the mechanism responsible. P767 Comparison of antimicrobial resistance in diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli isolates causing traveller's diarrhoea between two periods, 1994-1997 and 2001-2003 E. Mendez Arancibia, J. Ruiz, R. Cabrera, J. Gascon, J. Vila Barcelona, E Objectives: To compare the antimicrobial resistance levels in Escherichia coli clinical isolates causing traveller's diarrhoea in two periods, 1994-1997 and 2001-2003. Material and methods: Presence of enteroaggregative (EAEC) and enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) was established by PCR among those isolated from travellers with diarrhoea during the periods 1994-1997 and 2001-2003 . Susceptibility to ampicillin (AMP), amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid (AMC), tetracycline (TET), chloramphenicol (CHL), cotrimoxazole (SXT), nalidixic acid (NAL) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) was determined by disk diffusion. Results: One hundred thirty-two (50 EAEC, 82 ETEC) and 113 (49 EAEC, 64 ETEC) diarrhoeagenic E. coli were recovered during two periods, 1994-1997 and 2001-2003, respectively . The levels of resistance of EAEC to all tested antibacterial agents increased in the second period: AMP from 52 to 73%, AMC from 0 to 10%, TET from 64 to 86%, SXT from 48 to 69%, NAL from 6 to 31% and CIP from 2 to 16% (P < 0.0001), whereas the leaves of resistance to CHL showed a slight decrease (28-22%) but not statistically significant. In ETEC strains resistance to AMP, NAL, CIP and AMC increased from 43 to 50%; 6 to 17%; 1 to 6%; 0 to 6%, respectively, while resistance to CHL decreased from 20 to 14%. The levels of resistance to TET and SXT did not present greater differences, but suggested a slight increase in the resistance (57-61% and 50-53% respectively). Conclusions: A trend to an increase in the resistance of EAEC and ETEC to AMP, AMC, NAL, and CIP has been detected, and the decrease of resistance to CIP is worthy of note due to the fact that this antimocrobial agent is considered a first choice treatment for traveller's diarrhoea.

A.J. Hakanen, S. Pitkänen, A. Siitonen, P. Kotilainen, J. Jalava, P. Huovinen Turku, Helsinki, FIN Objectives: Quinolone-resistant Salmonella isolates emerged in Finland in the mid-1990s. The main origin of these strains is travellers returning from Southeast Asia. This study was performed to evaluate the incidence and changes of fluoroquinolone resistance in Salmonella isolates between 2000 and 2003 in Finland. Methods: We collected a total of 805 Salmonella enterica isolates which were considered to be epidemiologically unrelated. The isolates were divided into two groups (Finnish and foreign isolates) on the basis of travel history. The collection was performed in four phases: each year in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 starting in January, we consecutively collected 100 Finnish and 100 foreign isolates. MICs for nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin and 10 additional fluoroquinolones were determined by the standard agar dilution method (NCCLS). Results: During the study period, the number of isolates with decreased ciprofloxacin susceptibility (MIC of ciprofloxacin >0.125 lg/mL) increased from 16 to 34% of all isolates (P < 0.01). A similar trend could be seen both among the isolates of foreign and Finnish origin. In addition, within the non-susceptible population the MIC values were increasing. MIC50 of ciprofloxacin increased from 0.25 to 0.5 lg/mL among the isolates with decreased ciprofloxacin susceptibility between 2000 and 2003. The respective figures for MIC90 were 0.5 and 1 lg/mL. All isolates with decreased ciprofloxacin susceptibility had also increased MICs to additional fluoroquinolones. Conclusion: The number of Salmonella isolates with decreased ciprofloxacin susceptibility continues to grow in Finland.

Moreover, the MIC levels of these isolates have increased. This phenomenon might have serious clinical implications. P769 Bacteraemia caused by ESBL-producing Salmonella enterica serovar. virchow 6.7:r:1,2 -a cause for concern A. Guleri, G.D. Corcoran, S.R. Alcock, D.J. Brown Glasgow, UK Background: Antibiotic resistance in Salmonellae is now common.

In developed countries such strains are largely zoonotic and acquire resistance in the animal host before transmission to humans in food. We present our first case of bacteraemic illness with multi-resistant, extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) producing non-typhoidal Salmonella. Case summary: A 34-year-old male, with a history of recent foreign travel was admitted to hospital with a 7-10 day history of gastrointestinal symptoms/fever. On admission he was febrile and splenomegaly was detected. Physical examination was otherwise normal. Biochemistry revealed mildly deranged liver function. Salmonella enterica serovar. virchow 6.7:r:1,2 was isolated from blood culture. It was sensitive in vitro (NCCLS disk test) to ciprofloxacin and gentamicin but resistant to ampicillin, cefuroxime, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, co-trimoxazole, nalidixic acid and streptomycin. MIC of ciprofloxacin was 0.094 mg/L. Antibiotic treatment was with ciprofloxacin, to which he responded well. ESBL detection: The isolate was identified as Salmonella enterica serovar. virchow 6.7:r:1,2 [API 20 identification system (bio-Mérieux), serogrouping, serotyping and phagetyping]. The isolate, resistant in vitro (NCCLS) to cefotaxime and ceftazidime, was tested for extended-spectrum beta lactamase/AmpC production by phenotypic methods. AB Biodisk ESBL E-tests (cefepime, ceftazidime and cefotaxime, each AE clavulanic acid) and Oxoid ESBL combination disks (cefpodoxime, ceftazidime, cefotaxime and cefpirome, each AE clavulanic acid) and cefoxitin alone were used based on modified NCCLS/manufacturer's guidelines. The isolate tested positive for ESBL production by both ESBL E-tests and combination disks. Molecular typing of the ESBL is awaited. Conclusion: Invasive infection with Salmonella virchow is uncommon. The source of infection in this case appears to have been undercooked chicken. The emergence of resistance to antimicrobial agents within the salmonellae is a worldwide problem that has been associated with the use of antibiotics in livestock. Invasive infection with S. virchow, resistant to broad-spectrum beta-lactams, is a cause for concern. If antimicrobial therapy is indicated for travellers with a history of recent foreign travel, physicians should be aware of the possibility of treatment failures and in such cases MICs of third-generation cephalosporins and ciprofloxacin should be determined. The aim of the present study was to assess the distribution and the antibiotic resistance rates (ARR) of the various nontyphoidal Salmonella serotypes originated from non-human sources in Greece, during a 11-year period (1990) (1991) (1992) (1993) (1994) (1995) (1996) (1997) (1998) (1999) (2000) . Material and methods: A total of 753 isolates, belonging to 27 different serotypes, were selected from the collection of National Reference Center for Salmonella and Shigella (NRCSS), in order to reflect the prevalence of these serotypes during the mentioned period. The sample consisted of 382 isolates from animals, 295 isolates from foods, and 76 environmental isolates. Susceptibilities to 10 antibiotics of various classes were determined using MICs broth micro-dilution method. Results and conclusions: The highest ARR and also the higher incidence of multiresistance have been observed for S. virhow, followed by S. hadar and S. typhimurium. The vast part of S. typhimurium isolates was resistant at least to ampicillin, tetracycline and chloramphenicol, while the main resistance phenotype of S. enteritidis isolates was the monoresistance to ampicillin (Table) . The ARR and the phenotypes of resistance for the isolates of the above four serotypes were similar with the corresponding ones of human isolates as resulted from a recent Greek study derived also from NRCSS (Eur J Epidemiol 2001; 17: 751-755) a fact consistent with possible transfer of antibiotic resistant strains from animals to humans through the food chain. The incidence of resistance for the rest of serotypes was very low. All the examined isolates were susceptible to ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin. Interestingly, almost all the examined isolates belonged to animals bred at a non-industrial scale (e.g. pigeons) and the environmental isolates were sensitive to all tested antimicrobials, possibly because of the reduced antibiotic pressure in these isolates. 1996-1998 and 1999-2001 . The isolation rates of S. enteritidis, S. typhimurium and the others were 74.2, 18.2 and 7.6%, respectively, in the first period. In the second period isolation rates were found 51.6, 29 and 18.4%, respectively. Antimicrobial resistance for (AMP and TMP-SXT) in S. enteritidis, S. typhimurium and others were found (33.0/11.6%), (31. 6 The laboratory data were analysed in 978 Shigella spp. isolated from stool materials of adult patients over a 9-year period (1992) (1993) (1994) (1995) (1996) (1997) (1998) (1999) (2000) retrospectively. Shigella isolates were identified by standard biochemical reactions and using specific antisera. Antimicrobial susceptibility for ampicillin (AMP), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SXT) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) were determined by the disk diffusion method according to National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. Results: In order to show the differences in epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance, the study was divided into two periods. The first period was from 1992 to1996, and the second period was from 1997 to 2000. A total of 475 Shigella spp. isolates were obtained in the first period and 503 isolates in the second period. Isolation rates of the strains in the first and second periods were, respectively, for Shigella flexneri 55.7 and 21.5%; for Shigella sonnei 30.5 and 60.4%; for Shigella dysenteria 8.9 and 11.9%; and for Shigella boydii 4.8 and 6.2%. The rates of resistance to (AMP) in the first and second periods were respectively in S. flexneri 64.9 and 66.7%; S. sonnei 54.5 and 30.5%, S. dysenteria 32.4 and 62.0%; S. boydii 46.0 and 65.0%. The rates of resistance to TMP-SXT in S. flexneri 22.6 and 40.8%; S. sonnei 38.0 and 41.3%; S. dysenteria 23.2 and 33.7%; S. boydii 40.0 and 56.5%. All strains were susceptible to ciprofloksasin. Conclusions: S. flexneri was the most common species isolated in the first period and S. sonnei was the common species in the second period. In Ankara, the data showed an increase in the resistance to the commonly used antimicrobial agents are ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Ciprofloxacin seemed to be the best choice for the treatment of Shigelliosis. To determine the antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella and Shigella strains isolated from stool specimens during a 2-year period, from patients admitted to our clinics with a diagnosis of diarrhoea. Methods: The identification and susceptibility testing was done by VITEC 2 (bioMerieux, Fr) automated system. The antibiotics tested for the study were ampicillin, ampicillin-sulbactam, cefotaxime, cefepim, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and trimethoprim-sulfametaxazole. Results: Nineteen Salmonella and seven Shigella isolates obtained between 1 January 2002 and 30 November 2003 were tested for their susceptibilities to seven antimicrobial agents. The total numbers of isolates during 1999-2001 (including the year of big Marmara earthquake) were 39. Five of six Shigella isolates were S. sonnei, one was S. flexneri. Thirteen of 19 Salmonella isolates were S. typhimurium, three were S. enteritidis, two were identified as Salmonella spp., one was S. arizonae. Although all of the isolates were found susceptible to the therapeutic agents, ampicillin susceptibility was decreased to 78% from 100% and trimethoprimsulfametaxazole susceptibility was decreased to 89% from 100% in Salmonella strains during a 2-year period. Only one strain was resistant to cefotaxime. No resistance was found against ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin. All of the Shigella isolates were susceptible to all tested antibiotics.

Conclusions: (1) The incidence of Salmonella and Shigella infections seemed to decrease significantly over a 5-year period.

(2) S. typhimurium and Shigella sonnei are the most commonly identified serotypes.

(3) There is no significant change in resistance to 'old' and 'new' antibiotics. (4) All of the isolates showed a very good sensitivity all the antimicrobials tested. (5) A careful rotational use of antibiotics might be the best policy to make old drugs again active, and abuse of new agents. Objectives: Since 1996 the incidence of human Campylobacteriosis has shown a significant increase in Austria. Consumption of contaminated poultry products is a well known risk factor for human infections. During the slaughter process meat products can become contaminated with intestinal organisms. Furthermore antibiotic resistance is increasing in humans and animals. The aim of the study was to determine the resistance patterns and the transmission routes of Campylobacter sp. on the chicken-carcasses along the slaughter line. To compare the frequency of isolation and occurrence of antimicrobial resistance among C. jejuni and C. coli isolated in humans, retail poultry meat and farm broilers in 2002. Methods: Fifty-three human, 51 retail poultry meat and 15 Campylobacter spp. isolates from broiler cloacal swab were investigated for antibiotic susceptibility to 12 antimicrobials by disk-diffusion method. MICs were further determined for erythromycin-and ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates by Etest. To confirm ciprofloxacinresistance we used a mismatch amplification mutation assay (MAMA) PCR to detect the gyrA mutation. Species were determined by multiplex PCR and genetic diversity by PFGE typing. Results: C. coli isolated in significant proportion in all three sources, 27.8, 56.9 and 53.3%, respectively. Resistance to one or more antibiotic tested was 71.7, 89.5, and 53.8% and multiresistance 30.2, 41.7 and 30.85% in human, retail poultry and farm isolates, respectively. No significant difference was found in the overall resistance rates, and for each antibiotic tested between C. jejuni and C. coli isolates from all three sources, which is unusual finding. Moreover, they were higher in C. jejuni. Given that after the war population in this region were mostly the Muslim, C. coli in humans originated from other sources than pigs. Thus, it may suggest that C. coli resistance is origin-related. Erythromycin-and ciprofloxacin-resistance was high and almost equal in all three sources (30.2, 30.6, 38.5%, and 32.1, 26.5, 30.8%, respectively) .Imported retail poultry meat (from five countries) had higher resistance rates for erythromycin than domestic one, 38.7 vs. 26.7%, but ciprofloxacin resistance was higher in domestic one, 38.7 vs. 22.2%. Conclusion: The distribution of C. jejuni and C. coli species and drug resistance in isolates from chicken and farm animals were similar to that seen in humans, even in the absence of antibiotic pressure (57% of patients were under 6 years of age, and growth promoters ban in Bosnia and Herzegovina), suggesting that poultry may play a role in human infections. When PFGE patterns were considered, they were remarkably diverse, suggesting considerable genetic heterogeneity. It may support the hypothesis that Campylobacter spp. from food animals and humans may not be represented by discrete populations but rather, form part of a common population shared by food animals and humans, suggesting related sources of infection. Objectives: This investigation was designed to study the potential usefulness and economic benefits of oral linezolid as an alternative to outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT) in the treatment of primary cellulitis. Methods: Patients with moderately severe cellulitis referred to an infusion centre for antibiotic treatment were enrolled into an open, non-randomised, pilot study. After informed written consent, patients were treated with oral linezolid, 600 mg q12 h, in place of their prescribed parenteral antibiotic. Patients were followed with clinic visits and lab monitoring.

Results: A total of 10 patients, five males and five females (mean age, 49 years), were enrolled. Seven were obese (mean weight, 146 kg; range, 101-196 kg), six had lower extremity cellulitis, one had lymphedema, and two were smokers. The average length of linezolid therapy was 12 days (range, 5-27 days). All were compliant with the treatment regimen and had a clinical cure of their infection. Mild side-effects (nausea, loose stools, headache, metallic taste) were reported by four patients. None developed thrombocytopenia or prematurely discontinued therapy. A 12-day course of linezolid therapy (drug costs, clinic visits, and lab monitoring) was found to be less expensive than 4 days of vancomycin treatment (1 g q12 h) in the infusion centre. Conclusions: In this study, we found that oral linezolid was safe and effective in the treatment of moderately severe cellulitis and could be a suitable replacement for OPAT. Furthermore, oral linezolid has the potential to improve patient satisfaction as well as lower overall treatment costs when compared with OPAT. Objective: Vancomycin (V) in combination with rifampin (R) and gentamicin (G) has been the recommended regimen for the treatment of PVE caused by MRSA but intolerance to these agents and emergence of MRSA strains with reduced susceptibility to the glycopeptides create the need for alternative agents. We describe the case of a patient with MRSA tricuspid PVE who was successfully treated with linezolid (L) after failure of glycopeptides.

Case: A 67-year-old man was admitted for persistent MRSA bacteraemia. He had been treated with V, G, R, and trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole (T/S) for MRSA PVE of the tricuspid valve which had recurred after a 45-day course of V and a 60-day course of T/S. Due to acute renal failure G was discontinued and V was changed to teicoplanin (T). He was transferred to our department because of persistent bacteraemia of 20 days duration despite adequate blood levels of T. Blood cultures revealed a MRSA strain with MICs of V, T, and L of 1, 2, and 0.75 mg/L, respectively. He was started on L (600 mg bid) and R (300 mg tid) and bacteraemia cleared the seventh day of treatment. He completed a 6-week course of L and a 3-week course of R. During his treatment he developed anaemia which was managed with blood transfusions and erythropoetin, mild leucopenia and mild thrombocytopenia. He was discharged afebrile with sterile blood cultures and a TEE showing reduction in the size of the vegetation. The patient remained well and blood cultures were sterile one month later while pancytopenia fully recovered. The MRSA isolate was investigated for heteroresistance to glycopeptides with (1) a simplified and (2) a detailed population analysis profile method.

(1) 0.01 mL of a 10 8 CFU/mL bacterial suspension was plated on BHI agar with V (4 mg/L). Subclones that grew after 48 h were submitted to MIC determination.

(2) Tenfold serial diluents of an inoculum of 10 8 CFU/mL were plated on BHI agar plates with increasing concentrations of V or T alone or with 4% NaCl. Viable colonies were counted at 48 h and plotted against the antibiotic concentration. Subclones with V MIC 4-6 mg/L were identified, suggesting that the isolate had heterogeneously reduced susceptibility to V which probably explained the failure of V treatment. The population curve showed that 50% of the original inoculum survived on T concentration !8 mg/L suggesting heteroresistance to T. In all three studies, patients treated with LNZ had shorter intravenous antibiotic treatment (IVAT) duration than patients in comparator groups, which results in increased rates of early patient discharges and reduced use of resources. In two of the studies, patients had significantly shorter mean LOS and greater odds of early discharge from hospital. Indeed, compared with TEI, treatment with LNZ had 66% greater odds of early discharge (P ¼ 0.049); a similar early discharge potential was also seen when LNZ was compared with VAN (P ¼ 0.005).

In select patient populations, such as those with cSSTI due to suspected/confirmed MRSA, reduction in LOS may be even more pronounced in LNZ-vs. VAN-treated patients. For the cost comparison in the third study, total mean adjusted cost was also reduced by US $335 (P > 0.05) in the LNZ group compared with the TEI group in patients from South America and Mexico.

Conclusions: Across multiple studies, there is consistent evidence of significant reductions in LOS and IVAT associated with LNZ treatment, with significant differences in the rate of early patient discharge. Therapy with LNZ shows pharmacoeconomic advantages that have the potential to reduce total costs of treatment. in vitro activity against MRSA and its oral administration represents an excellent alternative to IV vancomycin, which is currently recommended for CF patients colonised with MRSA. Material and methods: Oral LNZ (600 mg/12 bid) was administrated in two male CF patients (25 and 29 years) during 14 and 10 days, respectively. S. aureus isolates were cultured from different sputum samples recovered before, during, and after LNZ treatment. Antibiotic susceptibility was performed by NCCLS microdilution method using the Wider system (Fco. Soria Melguizo, S.A., Madrid, Spain). PFGE-SmaI was applied to analyse genetic relatedness of S. aureus isolates. Results: In the first patient, a total of 10 isolates were analysed during the studied period; six of them recovered in the previous year to LNZ administration, two isolates during LNZ administration period, and two isolates 4 and 6 months after the end of treatment. With the exception of one isolate that was methicillinsusceptible recovered during LNZ treatment period, all isolates were MRSA and presented homogeneous antibiotic susceptibility pattern. A single clone, with a subtype variant that included two isolates, was identified in all isolates, except in the meticillin-susceptible one. In the second patient, two MRSA and one meticillinsusceptible isolates were recovered during 5 months before LNZ therapy. Another methicillin-susceptible isolate was recovered after the LNZ therapy and no S. aureus were identified in the following CF controls during 8 months. MRSA isolates shared the same PFGE and antibiotic susceptibility pattern, whereas meticillin-susceptible isolates corresponded to two different clones unrelated with the MRSA clone. Independently of microbiology results, patients' pulmonary function remains unchanged after LNZ administration. Conclusion: Oral LNZ treatment in CF may affect population dynamics of S. aureus colonisation, being effective in MRSA eradication. Despite this fact and assuming the brief follow-up period, maintenance or eradication of MRSA colonisation after LNZ treatment seems not to affect pulmonary function, which may be related to the uncertain role of this pathogen in CF patients.

P788 In vitro spectrum of linezolid and other agents against clinical isolates of anaerobes K. Aldridge, C. Manders, S. Broyles New Orleans, USA Objectives: Linezolid is an oxazolidinone antimicrobial with established in vitro and in vivo activity against aerobic Gram-positive cocci. In infections such as wounds these Gram-positive pathogens may be mixed with other pathogens including anaerobes. The role of linezolid as an anti-anaerobe agent has yet to be determined. This study was performed to establish the in vitro activity of linezolid and comparative agents against recently isolated anaerobes.

Methods: Approximately 700 anaerobes were tested for susceptibility to linezolid (LZD), ceftriaxone (AXO), cefoxitin (FOX), clindamycin (CL), and metronidazole (MRD) using twofold dilutions (0.06-256 mg/L) of each agent using the NCCLS-recommended broth microdilution method. The sources of test isolates included wounds, abscesses, body fluids, and tissues.

Results: Against all test isolates LZD had an MIC range of 0.06-128 mg/L, a mode MIC of 4 mg/L, and MIC50 and MIC90 values of 2 and 4 mg/L, respectively. LZD activity was judged by percentage of isolates inhibited at 2 and 4 mg/L. Overall LZD inhibited 51 and 96% of isolates at 2 and 4 mg/L, respectively; at 2 and 4 mg/L, respectively, LZD inhibited 35 and 95% of Bacteroides fragilis group; 63 and 92% of Clostridium isolates; 71 and 97% of Prevotella isolates; 100% of Fusobacterium isolates; and 100% of Peptostreptococcus isolates. By comparison of MIC90 values LZD was 2-to 64-fold more active than AXO, 0-to 16-fold more active than FOX, and 2-to 32-fold more active than CL against these same groups of isolates. LZD and MRD had virtually equal in vitro activity. Interestingly, all isolates with MICs of 8 mg/L or higher to LZD had MICs of 2 mg/L or less to MRD, while isolates with MICs of 8 mg/L or higher to MRD had MICs of 4 mg/L or less to LZD. Conclusions: Based on these results and arbitrary use of NCCLS breakpoints for Gram-positive isolates, we conclude that LZD is highly active against anaerobe pathogens, but this needs to be verified by pharmacokinetic and clinical studies. Results: On comparing the MICs from the current study with the results from 7 years ago, an unmistakable and very alarming decline in susceptibility was noted for all the antimicrobial agents tested. The greatest difference in susceptibility was noted for cefoxitin (from 91 to 62%), metronidazole (from 98 to 78%), piperacillin (from 84 to 68%) and amoxicillin (from 74 to 60%). The antimicrobial agents for which <5% decrease in susceptibility was found, included meropenem (from 96 to 93%), clindamycin (85 to 81%) and ciprofloxacin (from 74 to 69%). A great concern, however, was an 8% decrease found in the susceptibility for imipenem (from 96 to 88%). Conclusions: A decade ago, most anaerobic bacteria were susceptible to antimicrobial agents usually used for infections caused by these bacteria. The results from this study, however, indicate a situation that has undergone some dramatic changes in a relatively short period. It is of concern that the agents most frequently used in the empirical treatment of anaerobic infections, such as metronidazole and the b-lactams such as cefoxitin and piperacillin have shown the most alarming decrease in susceptibility. There is now, more than ever before, a definite need for continuous susceptibility testing of anaerobes and a serious restructuring of the treatment regimes for anaerobic infections.

A. Camarda, D. Pennelli, P. Battista, M. Corrente, I. Alloggio Valenzano, I Objectives: Escherichia coli isolated from fattening-rabbits dead for enteritis were biotypised, tested with PCR for the presence of virulence genes eae and afr2 coding for intimin and the fimbrial adhesin AF/R2 and investigated for antimicrobial resistance. Methods: Fifty-six strains of E. coli isolated in 28 farms were biotypised using the fermentation of sorbose, dulcitol, raffinose, sucrose and L L-rhamnose. Detection of drug resistance was determined using the method of Kirby-Bauer on Mueller-Hinton agar with antibiotic disks containing gentamicin (GM10), amikacin (AN30), tetracycline (TE30), erythromicin (E15), spiramicin (SP100), enrofloxacin (ENR5), flumequine (AR30), trimethoprim/ sulphametoxazole (SXT), amoxicilline (AMX 25), apramycin (APR30), difloxacine (DFX10), marbofloxacine (MAR5), nalidixic acid (NA30), neomycin (N30), colistin (CL50), streptomycin (S10). Results: 10 biotypes (B0, B1, B8, B9, B12, B16, B17, B24, B25, B28) were detected: biotypes 8 and 24 were predominant in rabbitries. Eae and afr2 genes were almost observed in E. coli strains belonging to them. Results of antibiograms have shown that all the isolates (100%) were E15 resistant. High rate of resistance were also found towards SP100 (98.2%), SXT (92.8%), TE30 (87.5%), S10 (73.2%), GM10 (71.4%), N30 (69.3%). About 91% of E. coli tested showed the same susceptibility rate (91.5%) to MAR5 and CL50. Susceptibility to DFX10, ENR5, AR30, NA30, was exhibited by the 80.3, 78.5, 75, 71.4%, of the strains, respectively. Sensitivity against AMX25 was quite high (76.7%). Multiple antibiotic resistance was expressed by all E. coli tested. The most prevalent resistotypes were resistant to TE30-E15 SP100-SXT, detected in 47 strains (83.9%), TE30-E15-SP100-SXT-S10, which accounted for over 60% and TE30-E15-SP100-SXT-GM10 detected in 67.8% of isolates. Conclusions: No significant correlation was observed between enteropathogenic E. coli (eae+ and AF/R2+) and pattern of antibiotic resistance. Quinolones have shown very good activity; in particular MAR5, which has been recently adopted in veterinary medicine seems to possess high efficacy. On the other hand, E. coli strains exhibited high-level of resistance to antimicrobials. Like human E. coli, rabbit strains revealed different patterns of multiresistance, which could make disease control difficult in rabbits and also promote dissemination and increasing of antimicrobial resistance in human strains. Objective: To determine the frequency and susceptibility patterns of bacterial pathogens isolated from bloodstream (BSI) of haematology-oncology patients hospitalised at Latin American medical centres. Material and methods: As part of the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program, a total of 1587 BSI isolates were recovered from haematology-oncology patients from 1997 to 2002. The isolates were susceptibility tested to >20 antimicrobial agents in a central laboratory using NCCLS broth microdilution method. Results: The most frequent isolated pathogen was coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS; 17.7%), followed by Escherichia coli (17.5%), Staphylococcus aureus (15.8%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (10.3%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8.9%), Enterobacter spp. (6.7%), Acinetobacter spp. (4.5%), and Enterococcus spp. (3.1%). Oxacillinresistance rates were 33.9 and 74.4% among S. aureus and CoNS, respectively, isolates. The prevalence of ESBL-producing strains ranged from 9.4% for E. coli to 41.1% for K. pneumoniae. For Enterobacter spp., susceptibility rates were 54.7 and 86.9% to ceftazi-dime and cefepime, respectively. All Enterobacteriaceae isolates tested were susceptible to carbapenems. The susceptibility of P. aeruginosa to imipenem and meropenem was 83.7 and 86.5%, respectively; 82.2 and 92.8% of the Gram-negative bacilli were susceptible to cefepime and meropenem, respectively. Only 4.1% of the Enterococcus spp. isolates were resistant to vancomycin. Conclusions: In contrast to American and European reports, Gram-negative bacilli represented the major cause of BSI among haematology-oncology patients in the Latin American hospitals evaluated. The antimicrobial agents with the best covered against such pathogens were the carbapenems and cefepime. However, none of the evaluated antimicrobial agents inhibited the growth of 100.0% of the Gram-negative bacilli. Thus, continued monitoring by surveillance programs is necessary to determine if the observed trends would continue to be recorded. Objective: We attempted to verify if the frequency of occurrence (FO) and antimicrobial susceptibility profile (ASP) of bacterial isolates responsible for causing bloodstream Infections (BSI) in paediatric patients varied along the years and age categories. Methods: A total of 2450 bloodstream isolates were collected from paediatric patients hospitalised in Latin American hospitals through the SENTRY Program between 1997 and 2002. The ASP to various antimicrobials was determined by the NCCLS broth microdilution method. The FO and ASP were studied according to age categories (AC): 1 year, 2-5 years, and 6-12 years. Results: Overall, S. aureus (SA) was the most frequently isolated pathogen among children 1 year (18.3%) and 6-12 years (26.8%) followed by coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS). Among children 1 year and 2-5 years, S. pneumoniae (SPN) ranked among the top five pathogens. In contrast, it has caused less than 5.0% of BSI among children 6-12 years. Curiously, in this age group, Acinetobacter spp. and P. aeruginosa (5.8%) assumed the fifth position in the rank order of frequency. In general, among SA, the oxacillin resistance (OR) rates were lower in the 6-12-year-old AC (17.2%; P 0.05) than in children 1 year (27.3%) and 2-5 years (25.0%). In contrast, among the CoNS, elevated rates of OR were noticed in all ACs ( 1 year, 82.1%; 2-5 years, 81.2%; 6-12 years, 78.3%; P > 0.05). ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae were more frequently detected in the AC 1 year (66.8% of the K. pneumoniae isolates) and 2-5 years (64.1%) than 6-12 years (52.0%). On the contrary, ESBL-producing E. coli isolates were less frequently encountered among children 1 year (12.1%) than children !6 years (21.9%). However, these differences did not reach statistical significance (P > 0.05). SPN isolates showing reduced susceptibility to penicillin were detected more frequently in the AC of 1 year (39.2%) and 2-5 years (32.7%) than in 6-12 years (15.0%; P 0.05). Conclusions: Although only slight differences in the FO of BSI pathogens was noticed along the years and AC, important differences were observed on the ASP of the BSI pathogens according to the age categories, especially for SPN and SA isolates. Objectives: The aim of this prospective, multicentric study was to assess incidence of Gram-positive bacteria in bloodstream infections (BSI) and characteristics of their resistance to antibiotics in the Czech Republic.

Methods: The study was done in 15 sites in the Czech Republic from January to April 2003. Consecutive Gram-positive strains isolated from blood were assessed and their clinical significance was evaluated. Results: The strains of Staphylococcus aureus (39%), coagulase-negative staphylococci (34%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (11%) and Enterococcus spp. (9%) were identified as the etiologic agent of Gram-positive BSI. The frequency of oxacillin-resistant strains was in Staphylococcus aureus and in coagulase-negative staphylococci 10 and 41%, respectively. All Streptococcus pneumoniae strains were susceptible to penicillin and chloramphenicol. No strains resistant to glycopeptides were found in enterococci. Clinical significance of isolated Gram-positive bacteria was significantly conditioned by bacterial species (P ¼ 0.001) and reached 100% in Streptococcus pneumoniae, 87% in Staphylococcus aureus, 82% in Enterococcus spp. strains and 10% in coagulase-negative staphylococci. Production of bacterial biofilm was shown in 56% Staphylococcus aureus strains and in 42% coagulase-negative staphylococci. BSI was the immediate cause of death of the patient in 5%. Conclusion: We could confirm that presence of artificial material means significant risk factor for BSI. Catheter-related infections were present in 32% of cases. Forty-six per cent of BSI can be characterised as secondary and pneumonias, GIT infections and urinary tract infections were the most common sources. The frequency of Staphylococcus spp. with positive finding of biofilm was 49% in this study; this finding supports its clinical significance. Methods: A total of 6670 S. aureus positive sample isolates between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2002 from the laboratory were analysed. The susceptibility to antibiotics was assessed by antibiogram based on the API system (bioMérieux Ò ) according to the French guidelines (CA-SFM). The SA strains were classified as methicillin susceptible and gentamicin susceptible (gentaS-MSSA), methicillin resistant and gentamicin susceptible (gentaS-MRSA), methicillin susceptible and gentamicin resistant (gentaR-MSSA) or methicillin resistant and gentamicin resistant (gentaR-MRSA). The number of isolates was calculated for 1000 admissions. Means per year were compared using Kruskal Wallis test. The Spearman coefficient (R) was used to calculate the correlation between the proportion of isolates (for each antibiotic resistance profile) and months. Results: The overall proportion of SA positive samples for 1000 admissions during the study period was: 11.2, 12.0, 12.7, 11.9, 11.4 and 11.8 for 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 , respectively (R ¼ À0.2; P ¼ 0.9). The percentage of MSSA was 76.2 (75.7 for gentaS, 0.5 for gentaR) and the percentage of MSSA was 23.8 (20.1 for gentaS, 3.7 for gentaR) for the total period. Patients with MRSA were older (57.3 years) compared with patients with MSSA (mean age 41.5, P < 0.0001) but patients with gentaR-MRSA were younger (53.2 years) compared with patients with gentaS-MRSA (mean age 58.1, P ¼ 0.006). The proportion of gentaS-MSSA for 1000 admissions was similar by time (9.4, 9.0, 9.9, 8.8, 8.2, 9 .0, P ¼ 0.5) (R ¼ À0.1; P ¼ 0.5). However, the proportion of gentaS-MRSA strains increased significantly (1.7, 2.4, 2.4, 2.5, 2.9, 2.5, P ¼ 0.001) (R ¼ 0.4; P < 0.0001) while the proportion of gentaR-MRSA strains decreased significantly during the period (0.6, 0.6,

Conclusion: Although the proportion of SA positive samples for 1000 admissions remains constant during the last 6 years, there is a continuous increasing trend of isolates with gentaS-MRSA and a decreasing trend of isolates with gentaR-MRSA. The age difference between these two sub-groups should be explored.

Greek Region -Corfu Island E. Gatsouli, M. Ovrenovits, A. Pasxali, A. Tzanavari Corfu, GR Background: In order to assess the regional trends of microbiological resistance pattern, all cultured bacteria isolated in 2003 in our Laboratory were reviewed as to specimen source and susceptibility profile. Materials and methods: In 2003, 7220 samples were cultured, 75% (5415) of hospitalised patients and 25% (1805) from ambulatory patients. The samples were: 3760 urine, 1276 blood cultures, 580 lesions and 1604 samples of other secretions. Classic culture methods, Vitek system and NCCLS breakpoints were used. Results: Cultivations were positive in 23% (1661, 1381 adults and 280 children samples). The distribution of bacteria differed according to the types of specimens. The distribution of 1147 Gram(À) was 1003 Enterobacteriaceae and 145 Nonfermentative bacilli. There were 460 Gram(+) cocci and 54 yeasts, too. E. Coli predominated in enterobacteriaceae (65%), followed by Klebsiella sp., P. aeruginosa in non-fermentative bacilli (70%) and A. baumanii (29%). Among the Gram(+) S. aureus was the most frequent (42.5%), followed by CNS. Ampicillin inhibited growth of 35% for E. Coli. Ttime/Sulfa combination could inhibit less than 16% and the second-generation cephalosporins less than 25%, while fluoroquinolons were very effective against enterobacteriaceae strains (more than 95%). Piperacillin inhibited growth of 8% of P. aeruginosa and quinolons less than 17%. Enterococcus strains were highly sensitive to teicoplanin (100%) and nitrofurantoin (97.9%). MRSA were 31% but GISA were 1%. A. baumanii and GISA were in ICU. Conclusion: A permanent surveillance of frequency and sensitivity levels of the most common pathogens responsible for infectious enables to identify local antimicrobial activity and plays a key role in starting empiric therapy pending bacterial identification and in vitro assay.

Objectives: The biochemistry and genetics of antibiotic resistance are well documented; however, information regarding the medical and social factors that influence its occurrence remains lacking. The aim of this study was to elucidate these latter relationships and to examine the dynamics of their effects. Methods: Antibiotic resistance data for bacterial isolates obtained from the community was collected from all microbiology laboratories in Wales from 1996 to 2003. Antibiotic prescribing data, practice demographics, deprivation indices, general practitioner demographics, and details of sampling behaviour was also obtained for the same period for all general practices in Wales. Initial analyses exploring the nature of these data and the relationships of the various components were undertaken using Excel and SPSS. Results: Preliminary analyses indicate that both antibiotic resistance and prescribing varied between practices. For coliform UTIs, there was a clear association between high prescribing and higher levels of resistance, with prescribing accounting for 10-20% of variation in resistance. The correlation between prescribing and resistance was not confined to the urinary coliforms but seen throughout a range of pathogens including those responsible for respiratory and skin infections. There was an association between resistance and social deprivation exceeding that expected from high prescribing in deprived areas and an apparent association between resistance and the number of practitioners in a practice and the practice list size. Resistance was more common in infections in the young (<10 years), the aged (>60 years) and for some pathogens resistance was significantly greater in males. Multilevel modelling, regression analysis and time series analysis of this complex data set is in progress. Conclusions: Antibiotic usage appears to affect resistance at practice level and the dynamics of this selection process are currently being investigated. It is hoped that these studies will assist in the design of interventions to limit the future impact of resistance and contribute to our ability to predict their outcomes. Objectives: Data about the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in Indonesia are limited. The AMRIN study measured the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in the Indonesian population inside and outside hospitals. Methods: 4000 individuals were targeted to be screened constituting four different populations in each of two cities: patients admitted to hospital, patients discharged from hospital, patients visiting primary health centres, and relatives of patients admitted to hospital. Nasal swabs and rectal swabs were taken and cultured using phenol red mannitol agar for the isolation of Staphylococcus aureus, and CHROM agar orientation medium for Escherichia coli. Susceptibility testing was performed by disk diffusion method recommended by NCCLS. Results: 3996 individuals were included in the study between July and October 2001 in Surabaya and between January and May 2002 in Semarang equally distributed over the four groups and two cities. S. aureus isolates (n ¼ 298) were frequently resistant to tetracycline (23%) and oxacillin (7%) without obvious differences between the four populations. None of the oxacillin resistant strains of S. aureus harboured mec A gene. E. coli isolates (n ¼ 3284) showed considerable levels of resistance against a number of commonly used antibiotics. The highest levels of resistance to ampicillin (72.5%), chloramphenicol (42.5%), gentamicin (17.5%), cefotaxim (12.5%), ciprofloxacin (22.5%), and cotrimoxazole (55.5%) were among E. coli isolated from patients on the day of discharge from hospitals. Resistance rates were consistently lowest among E. coli from relatives of patients on admission to hospital and among patients visiting primary health care centres. Conclusions: The results show that antimicrobial resistance among common bacterial pathogens has emerged in Indonesia. Among E. coli the prevalence of resistance to ciprofloxacin and other antibiotics is remarkable high, especially in individuals after hospitalisation. Although the prevalence of MRSA is low, tetracycline resistance is common among S. aureus and not associated with hospital stay. Methods: Isolates from patients with invasive diseases caused by Haemophilus influenzae (Hi), Neisseria meningitidis (Nm), Group A Streptococcus (GAS), and Group B Streptococcus (GBS) were forwarded to reference laboratories in Alaska (2000 Alaska ( -2003 , Canada (2000 Canada ( -2003 , and Greenland (2001 Greenland ( -2003 for confirmation and serotyping. Chart reviews were conducted on confirmed cases to verify illness episode information. Data reported for 2003 are preliminary. Results: The total numbers of reported cases were 86 Hi, 34 Nm, 126 GAS, and 92 GBS. Crude annual rates of invasive disease per 100 000 population varied by country and organism [Hi 

Conclusion: Native peoples of AK and N Can have high rates of invasive bacterial disease caused by Hi, Nm, GAS and GBS. Overall rates of Nm disease are higher in GN than AK and N Can. Cases of invasive Hib disease continue to occur in children <2 years of age. Rates of Hia appear to be elevated in N Can and increasing in AK, however, caution needs to be used when interpreting rates due to the small number of cases. This trend merits further surveillance. Elevated case fatality rates in AK for Hi and Nm also warrant further investigation. Objectives: For tertiary care hospitals, knowing the local patterns of spectrum and susceptibility at the referring institutes can add significantly to the selection of appropriate antimicrobial therapy.

Our objective was to get information regarding the region specificity, frequency of occurrence and pattern of antimicrobial susceptibility of common bacterial infections in Central Illinois. Methods: We used hospital antibiogram data to assess predominant pathogens and pattern of in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial infections in the four regions (west, southwest, central and south) of central Illinois from January 2001 to June 2002. Results: Gram-negative bacteria were predominant in four regions (57, 48, 63 and 52% respectively). In all regions, E. coli was the most common organism (20, 22, 32, and 25%) followed by S. aureus (17, 21, 14, and 24%). E. faecalis, P. aeruginosa, and K. pneumoniae were also among the five most frequently reported species. On the other hand, the frequency of occurrence of S. pneumoniae was 1-3% in the four regions. The pattern of methicillin-resistant S. aureus was different in the four regions (27, 53, 34, and 42%) with only 0.1% of the total number of S. aureus showing intermediate resistance to vancomycin. E. faecalis, 99, 91, 96 and 96%, respectively, were susceptible to vancomycin. Susceptibility of S. pneumoniae to penicillin was almost the same in the four regions (67, 74, 64, and 75%). It was not surprising that P. aeruginosa was the least susceptible species among Gram-negative bacteria, and this species showed decreased susceptibility to gentamicin (78, 80, 77, and 55%) and to ciprofloxacin (73, 81, 67, and 67%).

Conclusions: Our data show that different communities in central Illinois have variable occurrence and pattern of antimicrobial susceptibility of common bacterial infections. We plan to formulate a regional antibiogram, distribute it to all hospitals in the area, and follow the patterns prospectively with renewal of the antibiogram once a year. P800 Antimicrobial resistance surveillance of Gramnegative anaerobic bacteria isolated in six Greek hospitals J. Papaparaskevas, N.J. Legakis, A. Katsandri, A. Avlamis -The Hellenic Study Group for Gram-Negative Anaerobic Bacteria

Objectives: The antimicrobial resistance surveillance of Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria isolated in six Greek hospitals. Methods: A total of 122 Gram-negative anaerobic clinical strains (72 Bacteroides fragilis group, 17 other Bacteroides spp. non-fragilis, 25 Prevotella spp., 4 Fusobacterium spp. and 4 miscellaneous) isolated during the period November 2002 to November 2003 were tested using the Etest method on brucella blood agar plates. Incubation in a ChelLab 1.5 Anaerobic Chamber was performed for 48 h and interpretation was according to NCCLS guidelines. Results: Overall Gram-negative non-susceptible (intermediate and fully resistant) rates to penicillin, ticarcillin + clavulanic acid, cefoxitin, tetracycline, clindamycin, metronidazole, imipenem and ertapenem were 83, 2, 31, 55, 32, 6, 1 and 5%, respectively. Bacteroides fragilis group rates were 93, 4, 38, 65, 31, 1, 1 and 7%, respectively. Prevotella spp. rates were 68, 0, 8, 32, 36, 16, 0 and 0%, respectively. Overall Gram-negative MIC90s were 256, 2, 64, 128, 256, 2, 0.5 and 1 mg/L, respectively. Bacteroides fragilis group MIC90s were 256, 4, 128, 128, 256, 1, 1 and 4, respectively. Prevotella spp. MIC90s were 256, 1, 16, 64, 256, 256, 0.125 and 0.5, respectively. Metronidazole resistance was detected among four Prevotella spp., one Bacteroides spp., one Porphyromonas spp. and one Fusobacterium spp. isolates. Additionally, a B. fragilis strain was found highly resistant (MIC > 32 mg/L) both to imipenem and ertapenem and resistant to all other antimicrobials tested except metronidazole. Conclusions: Carbapenems, beta-lactam + inhibitor combinations and metronidazole remain the antimicrobial agents of choice against most Gram-negative anaerobes. However, metronidazole resistance seems to be an emerging problem in Greece, especially among Prevotella spp. isolates. In that respect species identification and periodic susceptibility surveillance is mandatory. Imipenem and ertapenem activity was comparable, though ertapenem MICs were slightly higher. Acknowledgements: Members of the Hellenic Study Group for Gram Negative Anaerobic Bacteria are Drs A. Avlamis, C. Koutsia-Karouzou, C. Kontou-Kastelanou, A. Pangalis, E. Papafrangas and E. Trika-Grafakos.

The value of quality control strains in susceptibility tests K. Huppertz, I. Noll, B. Wiedemann and the GENARS group Objectives: The goals of a quality control programme are to assist in monitoring the precision and accuracy of the susceptibility test procedure, the performance of reagents used in the test and the performance of persons who carry out the tests and read the results. They are best accomplished by the testing of quality control (QC) strains with known susceptibility to the antimicrobial agents to be tested (NCCLS). Therefore, QC strain measurements done by laboratories taking part in the GENARS-project (German Network for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance) were used for a comparison of the performance of three different methods for MIC determination. Methods: In the GENARS-project two commercial MIC test systems and one manual microdilution system according to NCCLS are used for the determination of antimicrobial susceptibility. The commercial systems are the Vitek 2 (bioMérieux) and the Micronaut system (Merlin Diagnostics) with 384-well microtitre-plates. QC strains measured by all test systems were evaluated for those antibiotics where a range of AE1 dilution step of the modal value of the respective QC strain is included in the range of concentrations tested. For reliable assessment of the test quality the distance of the modal value from the lowest and highest concentration tested has to be two or more dilution steps. Results: From a multitude of antibiotics tested only few drugs are tested with a range of concentrations which meets the above mentioned requirements. Table 1 indicates the number of test combinations available for evaluation. The Vitek 2 system offers the shortest ranges of concentrations. However, from the range of concentrations only few are tested, while the others are calculated, e.g. for Gentamicin the range includes six concentrations while only three are measured (AST-P526). Conclusions: An evaluation of QC strain measurements should be possible for all antibiotics tested. However, due to the concentrations chosen and the short ranges of concentrations available in the different test-systems only few antimicrobial agents can be used for a comparison of the performance of the test methods. Therefore, either the range of concentrations has to be extended, or more suitable QC strains have to be implemented in a way that their MICs fall into the range of concentrations which are sufficient in clinical terms.

P802 Lack of evidence for DNA in antibiotic preparations as a source of antibiotic resistance genes S.K.P. Lau, P.C.Y. Woo, A.P.C. To, A.T.K. Lau, K.Y. Yuen Hong Kong, HK Objective: To investigate the significance of DNA encoding antibiotic resistance genes present in antibiotic preparations in the rapid development of antibiotic-induced antimicrobial resistance. Methods: A comprehensive study using sequence alignments and phylogenetic analysis of genes encoding antibiotic resistance in antibiotic-producing bacteria and the corresponding ones in nonantibiotic-producing human or animal bacterial isolates [erythromycin resistant methylase (erm), aminoglycoside 3 0 -phosphotransferase (aph3), aminoglycoside 6 0 -phosphotransferase (aph6), aminoglycoside acetyltransferase (aac), class A beta-lactamase, tetracycline resistance efflux protein, tetracycline resistance ribosomal protection protein and vancomycin resistance proteins (vanA, vanH, vanX) and bacitracin transport proteins (bcrA, bcrB, bcrC)] was carried out. If DNA encoding antibiotic resistance genes present in antibiotic preparations has been important in the development of antibiotic resistance, genes of almost identical amino acid sequences would be expected to be present in antibiotic-producing organisms and other human or animal bacteria, inferring that horizontal transfer of antibiotic-resistance genes had occurred from the former to the latter. Results: The maximum amino acid identities of genes among different non-antibiotic-producing bacterial isolates were close to 100% for most genes, but those between antibiotic-producing and human or animal bacteria ranged from <28 to <77%. Therefore, recent horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes has not occurred from antibiotic-producing organisms to human or animal bacteria. On the other hand, frequent horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes was observed among the human or animal bacteria, even if they were phylogenetically distantly related. Moreover, such transfer was particularly common among gastrointestinal tract flora or pathogens. Conclusion: DNA encoding antibiotic resistance genes in antibiotic preparations has not been an important source of antibiotic resist-ance genes. DNA decontamination during the process of antibiotic synthesis is probably not necessary. The human gastrointestinal tract has been an important place for bacterial gene exchange. The role of the human gut in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance should be further investigated.

Enterococci and other Gram-positive bacteria P803 Glycopeptide-resistant enterococci (GRE) have emerged as important pathogens since the late 1980s. An important factor associated with the appearance of GRE in the community in Europe has been avoparcin, a glycopeptide antimicrobial drug used for years in many European countries as a growth promoter in food-producing animals. In Europe, evidence suggests that food-borne GRE may cause human colonisation or infection. Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence and to determine the genotypes of GRE from different human and animal sources in Styria, Austria.

Methods: Stool specimens from each 100 patients with precedent antibiotic therapy and 100 non-hospitalised humans without precedent antibiotic therapy, 166 faecal cattle specimens, 117 faecal pig specimens and 40 faecal poultry specimens were collected in 2003. One millilitre of diluted faeces was added to 9 mL of Enterococcosel Bouillon (BD) for enrichment. After incubation, 100 mL was subcultured on VRE Screen Agar (BD). Species identification was performed with the API STREP systems and Vitek2 (bio-Mérieux). Resistance to vancomycin and teicoplanin was determined by the E-test method (AB Biodisk). Determination of glycopeptide resistance genotypes (vanA, vanB, vanC1, vanC2/3) was performed by PCR. Results: 4% of the patients with precedent antibiotic therapy harboured VRE. Among these, two were identified as E. faecium vanA, two as E. gallinarum vanC1 and E. casseliflavus vanC2, respectively. Eight per cent of the non-hospitalised human specimens contained VRE (six E. gallinarum, two E. casseliflavus). A total of 90 VRE strains were isolated out of the animal samples, 25.6% E. faecium, 35.6% E. gallinarum, and 38.8% E. casseliflavus strains.

No resistant E. faecalis strains were detected. PCRs confirmed that all E. gallinarum were of the vanC1, all the E. casseliflavus of the vanC2 and all the E. faecium strains of the vanA genotype. About 95.6% of all E. faecium vanA strains were isolated out of the poultry samples. One strain was isolated from a cattle sample, no specimen from pigs yielded glycopeptide-resistant E. faecium. Conclusion: The present study indicates that the prevalence of GRE in humans and in pig and cattle husbandry appears to be low, but it reveals a high prevalence of GRE (E. faecium) in Styrian poultry 6 years after the use of avoparcin was banned. Glycopeptide resistant enterococci (GRE) have become an increasing problem in the US and in Europe. Enterococci are intrinsically resistant against cephalosporins, aminoglycosides (low-level), polymixins, lincomycin and clindamycin. Furthermore, enterococci are able to acquire resistance to a wide range of antibiotics. There remain concerns that antibiotic use for growth promotion, prophylaxis and therapy in animal husbandry may lead to increased resistance to antibiotics used in human medicine. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the species distribution and the antibiotic resistance of GRE isolated from Styrian food-producing animals. Methods: A total of 90 GRE strains isolated from cattle, pig and poultry faecal specimens in 2003 were collected. The strains were identified using the Vitek2 automated methods (GPC) and the API STREP systems (bioMérieux). Antimicrobial susceptibilities were determined by Vitek 2 P524 card and by disk diffusion (linezolid). The strains were studied for susceptibility to 13 antibiotics: ampicillin (Am), amoxicillin/sulbactame (Amc), ciprofloxacin (Cip), erythromycin (Ery), gentamicin high level (Ge), linezolid (Li), norfloxacin (Nor), penicillin (P), quinupristin/ dalfopristin (Syn), streptomycin high level (Str), teicoplanin (Tp), tetracycline (Te) and vancomycin (Va). Results: E. casseliflavus was the most common GRE species isolated (38.8%), followed by E. gallinarum (35.6%) and E. faecium (25.6%). All E. gallinarum and E. casseliflavus were of the vanC, all E. faecium of the vanA phenotype. All investigated strains were sensitive against linezolid and gentamicin high level. P and Am resistance (82.6%) and reduced susceptibility to Cip (17.4%) was seen in E. faecium only. Ery resistance for E. faecium revealed 17.4%, for E. casseliflavus 85.7% and for E. gallinarum 31.3%. Resistance against Te for E. faecium was 91.3%, for E. casseliflavus 11.4% and for E. gallinarum 68.8%. About 17.4% of E. faecium strains were not susceptible to quinupristin/dalfopristin. Conclusions: Resistance phenotypes to P, Am, Cip, Ery and Te differed among Enterococcus species. Resistances found against tetracyclines, quinupristin/dalfopristin and erythromycin are causes of concern. High levels of antibiotic and multidrug resistance were observed among the E. faecium strains. The identification was carried out by the Vitek system (Biomerieux). The susceptibility test was performed either by the breakpoint system:mini API or the Vitek system (Biomerieux). Results: 146 (49%) and 152 (51%) streptococci strains were isolated from outpatients' and inpatients' urine cultures, respectively. The distribution by sex was 65% women/35% men in outpatients and 58% women/42% men in inpatients. A total of 157 (53%) of streptococci strains were Enterococcus faecalis, 54 (18%) were Enterococcus faecium, 10 (3%) were Enterococcus gallinarum and 77 (26%) were streptococci group B. The in vitro antibiotic resistance of Enterococci spp. was: penicillin 38.5% (85/221), ampicillin 23% (51/221), gentamicin 39% (86/221), nitrofurantoin 9.5% (21/221), ciprofloxacin 58% (128/221), tetracyclines 56% (123/221), vancomycin 6% (13/221), linezolid 0%. Eight VRE strains were Enterococcus faecium, three were Enterococcus gallinarum and two were Enterococcus faecalis. The in vitro antibiotic resistance of group B streptococci was: vancomycin 0%, nitrofurantoin 5.2% (4/77), ampicillin 6.5% (5/77), penicillin 7.8% (6/77), erythromycin 14.3% (11/77), tetracyclines 61% (47/77). Conclusions: Streptococci are responsible only for the 9.4% of urinary tract infections. Enterococcus faecalis was the most frequent pathogen (53%). Enterococci spp. showed high resistance in ciprofloxacin, tetracyclines, gentamicin, penicillin, and ampicillin. Objectives: Enterococcal infections are becoming an increasing concern, particularly due to the emergence and spread of resistance to animicrobial agents. We have investigated the phenotypic and genotypic properties of 66 Enterococcus faecium clinical isolates, expressing resistance to the combination of quinupristin/ dalfopristin, recovered during a 3-year period in the University Hospital of Patras.

Methods: All isolates were characterised at species level by Gram stain, catalase production and by the Crystal ID Gram Positive System (BBL). Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) to ampicillin (Amp), erythromycin (Em), chloramphenicol (Chl), gentamicin (Gm), ciprofloxacin (Cip), vancomycin (Va), teicoplanin (Tp), quinupristin/dalfopristin (Rp) and linezolid (Lin) were performed by the E-test (AB Biodisk) according to NCCLS recommendations. The presence of VanA and VanB genes was investigated by the Evigene commercial kit (Statens Serum Institut), while the presence of vga, vgb and sat1 genes by PCR with specific primers. Clonal types were characterised by PFGE of SmaI DNA digests. Results: In a collection of 88 E. faecium, 66 (75%) expressed MIC of Rp ! 1 mg/L, and among them 10 isolates (15%) showed MIC > 4 mg/L. High-level resistance to Gm was detected in 27 (41%) isolates, 53 (80%) to Cip, 5 (7.6%) to Chl, 58 (88%) to Amp and 62 (94%) to Em. Forty-three (65%) isolates were vancomycinresistant, carrying the vanA gene. No isolate was found to carry vga, vgb and sat1 genes. PFGE classified 36 isolates to clonal type A, 11 to type B, 6 to type C and the remaining 13 isolates belonged to 10 more types. Conclusions: High prevalence of low-level resistance to quinupristin/dalfopristin (MIC: 1-4 mg/L) was detected in this collection of E. faecium, with 10 strains expressing higher MIC levels. This was mainly due to the dissemination of certain clones in the hospital. In a previous work, we described the dissemination of RENC1 and RENC4 E. faecalis multiresistant clones colonising patients of four different ICUs. The RENC4 clone was frequently found in bacteraemias, suggesting a blood invasion from an intestinal origin. The aim of this study was to analyse the dynamic population evolution of enterococcal intestinal isolates and if the acquisition of epidemic hospital clones may occurs during ICU admittance. Material and methods: A close follow-up of four patients from the Neurosurgery ICU who were admitted after acute traumatism was performed. Rectal swabs were collected at the admittance and daily until they were discharged from the ICU. Stool samples were seeded in m-Enterococcus agar, eventually supplemented with selective antibiotics, and multiple colonies were analysed in each sample. PFGE-SmaI and the Phoretrix 5.0 software were applied to analyse the genetic relatedness among these isolates and the previously described hospital endemic clones. Results: Patient 1 and 2 stayed in the ICU for 12 days, and patient 3 and 4 for 7 days. Patient 1 carried along the 12 days the original E. faecalis and E. faecium clones. Moreover, five E. faecalis clones, one identical to the epidemic clone RENC1, and one E. faecium clone were acquired during the ICU stay, all of them persisting over the rest of the studied period. Patient 2 presented at admission three E. faecalis and two E. faecium clones; two E. faecalis were lost in 5 days, and E. faecium were lost at the second day. Four new E. faecalis and one E. faecium clones were found during all stays, whereas five more clones were occasionally isolated without persistence. In patient 3 an E. faecium clone was identified along all the studied period, and two new E. faecium clones were later acquired. Patient 4 had two E. faecium clones at admission, one of them being lost after the first day; the second persisted during all 7 days; a new E. faecium clone was acquired during the ICU stay. Patient and methods: The patient was a 62-year-old woman hysterectomised 15 years ago. She reported four surgical interventions due to a cystocele. The last operation took place 11 years ago and she reported no further admittances at any hospital. In the last years the patient also suffered from repeated urinary tract infections. In the present episode she consulted because of typical UTI symptoms (dysuria, bladder tenesmus) and a urine sample was collected. After 24 h of incubation, a Gram positive coccus was isolated (more than 100 000 ufc/mL). The identification and susceptibility were preliminarily achieved by a commercially available method following manufacturer's recommendations (MicroScan, DADE). Identification was confirmed by API rapid strep system (BioMerieux). To discard Enterococcus species intrinsically resistant to vancomycin the absence of motility was observed with direct microscopic detection and the absence of pigmentation was determined by culture on TSA agar. Susceptibility to vancomycin, teicoplanin and ampicillin were assessed by disk diffusion, E-test and broth mcrodilution. Results: The isolated microorganism was identified as Enterococcus faecalis and showed high MICs to vancomycin (>128 mg/L by broth microdilution and 6 mm by disk diffusion) and teicoplanin (8 mg/L by broth microdilution and 10 mm by disk diffusion) but was susceptible to ampicillin (0.5 mg/L by broth microdilution). To characterise the resistance mechanism involved in a series of 11 vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF) strains recovered in two Spanish hospitals of the same city, and to determine their clonal relationship. Methods: A surveillance programme was carried out during a 1-year period in MS-Hospital in order to detect VREF intestinal colonisation. Seven VREF strains were recovered from seven faecal samples which represents <1% of VREF intestinal colonisation.

In the same period, four clinical VREF strains, implicated in infectious processes were recovered in MS-Hospital (n ¼ 3) and RV-Hospital (n ¼ 1). All VREF strains (n ¼ 11) were recovered from 11 unrelated patients, most of them previously treated with glycopeptides or broad spectrum antibiotics and diagnosed with severe diseases. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by agar dilution method and vancomycin resistance genes (vanA, vanB, vanC1, vanC-2/3, and vanD) were studied by PCR. vanB amplicons were sequenced to determine the subtype and the vanB cluster of genes were also characterised. Other resistance genes were studied by PCR: aph(3¢)-IIIa, ant(6¢)-Ia and erm(B). PFGE assays were performed with SmaI digestion. Results: Nine of the 11 VREF strains (eight of MS-Hospital and one of RV-Hospital) showed a VanB phenotype [MIC (mg/L): vancomycin (16-32) and teicoplanin (0.5)]. The vanB2 gene was detected in these nine strains and in addition, the intergenic vanSB-YB region showed the characteristic mutations of the vanB2 subtype. The vanB2 gene cluster was integrated into the Tn5382like element in all of them, as it was demonstrated by specific PCRs and sequencing. These strains were resistant to streptomycin, kanamycin and erythromycin and ant(6¢)-Ia, aph(3¢)-IIIa and erm(B) genes were detected by PCR. All of them were included in the same PFGE clonal type A and two closely related subtypes were distinguished: A1 (seven strains from both hospitals) and A2 (two strains from MS-Hospital). Both subtypes were found in clinical strains as well as in strains recovered from faecal samples. Only three of them were from serious infections, the rest was isolated from carriers. All but one present VanA phenotype and harbour vanA gene. The only vanB harbouring strain was resistant to teicoplanin. The outbreak at Haematology was at the beginning polyclonal (10 PFGE clones) but eventually three of them became predominant in both wards. The outbreak in Cracov centre was spread to two other wards of this hospital (Surgery and Geriatry) with 53, 27 and 7 VREM isolated up to now, respectively. Five were from serious infections, 15 were from wounds in the Surgery, the rest represents for carriers detected during infection-control measurements. All but two of them were VanA phenotype/genotype (2 VanB phenotype/genotype isolates). One predominant PFGE clone was observed, differentiated into 14 PFGE sub-types ('hospital clone'). Five other PFGE clones detected seemed to be unique (one to five isolates). In both outbreaks two basic mechanisms of VRE spread were detected, clonal spread of VRE strains and the VanA-elements horizontal transfer. Conclusion: After time of VREM presenting VanB phenotype caused sporadic outbreaks two of haematology centres in Poland become the stages of multi-drug-resistant VanA VREM outbreaks, eventually turning into endemic. The colonisation rate was 10-15 times higher than infection in both cases. The danger of transmission to other centres and non-haematological hospitals in the country appears very high in these circumstances. Material and methods: Thirty-three selected VREfls from different patients at three hospitals (HUC, HSA and HST) in the North and Centre of Portugal (1996 Portugal ( -2002 were studied. Susceptibility to 12 antibiotics was performed by the agar dilution method (NCCLS). Isolates were searched for genes coding for resistance to glycopeptides, macrolides, and aminoglycosides. Tn1546 characterisation was done by an overlapping PCR strategy and sequencing when necessary. Clonal relatedness was performed by SmaI-PFGE. Virulence traits (Cyl, Agg, GelE, Esp) were investigated by a multiplex PCR assay. Results: All VREfls showed VanA phenotype and were mostly resistant to Ery, Cipro, HLRGm, and HLRKm (91, 88, 82, and 82%, respectively). Resistance genes found were vanA, erm(B), aac6-aph2, and aph30-IIIa. Nine PFGE types were isolated: eight from eight patients and one (clone B) from 25 patients. Clone B was disseminated among the three hospitals for 7 years giving eight PFGE subtypes, each one characteristic of a specific hospital.

VSEfls showing PFGE patterns identical to two clone B subtypes were found in HST. Six variants of Tn1546 were found, five of them among isolates of clone B. Tn1546-PP4 was found in all hospitals for 7 years and predominates in HUC and HST. It contains an ISEf1 insertion in the intergenic vanX-vanY region. Tn1546-PP15, only found in HSA, lacks genes involved in transposition. PP5 and PP2 were variants of PP4 and were recovered at HUC. PP16 was a PP-15 variant found in HSA. All VRE but one isolate of clone B were Agg+ and Gel+. Cyl and Esp were present in 43% of the VRE. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the dissemination and establishment of successful E. faecalis clones in the hospital setting amplify particular genetic determinants in local metagenomes resistant to vancomycin, and therefore influences future evolutionary events. We also report the first Tn1546-variant containing an ISEf1 insertion. Staphylococcus spp. is widely distributed in medical and veterinary pathology and represents one of the most important causes of infection. Many strains are antibiotic-resistant even for the presence of an eso-polysaccharide matrix. The aim of this work was to individuate, among 396 different Staphylococci of human and animal origin, the slime producing strains and to correlate the presence of biofilm to the resistance to eight antibiotics. A total of 185 coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) and 211 S. aureus isolated from different sources and identified with Sceptor System, were tested for antibiotic susceptibility (Kirby Bauer method) and for slime production (Polystyrene plates -stained with Alcian blue -Spectrophotometric reading at 450 nm). The strains were classified as weak, strong and no slime-producing on the basis of OD results. The results were submitted to statistical analysis using Student's t-test and chi-square tests. Evaluating the differences of slime production among medical and veterinary strains, we found different statistical frequencies (P > 0.001). No statistical differences were obtained between S. aureus and the other CNS. Instead, the statistical analysis on S. epidermidis vs. the other staphylococci has shown no statistical differences among average values using Student's ttest (P < 0.052) and significant frequency differences using chi square tests (P < 0.02). Finally in the CNS, between S. epidermidis and the other strains, no statistical differences were found. The relation between slime production and the origin of strains was evaluated and no correlation was found. About the correlation between antibiotic-resistance and slime production a resistance increment of about 30% was obtained in strongly slime producing strains. Staphylococcus spp. is often involved in nosocomial infections as complication of post-surgery wounds, catheters and orthopaedic devices. The presence of antibiotic-resistant strains interferes in the therapy successes and seems to be strictly related to biofilm production beyond that genetically acquired. Human and veterinary strains have shown a similar behaviour towards biofilm production and antibiotic-resistance. The results confirm that S. epidermidis is one of the most slime-producer and introduce S. aureus as a new high slime-producer. (2000) recommendations. The macrolide resistance phenotypes were determined using the erythromycin-clindamycin double disk test. Results: All the S. agalactiae isolates tested were found susceptible to penicillin G and vancomycin while the resistance rate to erythromycin was 8.1% (seven strains). The expression (%) of the macrolide resistance phenotypes among the resistant strains as they were evaluated by the double disk test were: constitutive (cMLSB) phenotype 57% (four isolates) and inducible (iMLSB) phenotype 43% (three isolates). No S. agalactiae strain was assigned to the M resistance phenotype. The overall resistance rate to clindamycin was 8.1%. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that S. agalactiae remains fully susceptible to penicillin and vancomycin while there are relatively low resistance values to macrolides and lincosamides. The MLSB phenotype predominated among the macrolide-resistant strains, a finding that raises concern about the use of clindamycin instead of erythromycin in prophylaxis or treatment of S. agalactiae infection in patients allergic to beta lactams. However, continuing surveillance is needed to detect any change in susceptibility patterns. Effect of enterovirus infection on the risk of type 1 diabetes mellitus has been studied mainly using indirect serological evidence of past infections, or using RT-PCR detection of the virus in plasma. With respect to enterovirus biology, we decided to assess the exposure to enterovirus using real-time RT-PCR detection and quantification from stool samples. This exposure is studied in relation to signs of autoimmune process ultimately leading to type 1 diabetes. Methods: The study population comes from the Norwegian 'MIDIA' study which screens newborns from the general population for the highest HLA-encoded risk of type 1 diabetes mellitus. The high-risk babies are followed-up by questionnaires, serum samples for markers of beta-cell autoimmunity, and stool samples collected in monthly intervals from month 3 to month 24. The stool samples are collected by parents and mailed to the laboratory where RNA and DNA is co-purified on Qiagen columns together with a low quantity of exogenous control RNA. Enterovirus is quantified by real-time RT-PCR using Armored RNA as a standard. Control RNA is detected in late cycles in the same reaction using a differently coloured probe reporter. Adenovirus quantity is simultaneously investigated as a viral exposure which has not been implicated in triggering type 1 diabetes. Here we present the results of the pilot study. Objective: There are conflicting reports regarding CMV-DNA positivity among healthy CMV-seropositive individuals. We aimed to determine the frequency of CMV-DNA positivity among healthy subjects and to evaluate its association with physical and mental stress in a longitudinal study. Subjects and methods:

Weekly peripheral blood samples were drawn into from 17 healthy CMV seropositive subjects aged between 24 and 53 years during a 8-week study period. Each subject rated their physical and mental stress and they also recorded their alcohol consumption and any change in their health status. CMV DNA was screened in plasma and peripheral blood leukocyte samples with a nested PCR using primers targeting MIE gene of CMV.

Results: In total, 272 samples (136 plasma and peripheral blood leukocytes, each) were screened and only one peripheral blood sample obtained during the second week of the study gave positive result. This sample belonged to the oldest subject of the study. According to our results, CMV-DNA positivity among healthy CMV seropositive individuals seems to be a rare event. Results: All 16 centres reported qualitative results; four centres also reported quantitative results. All samples were correctly identified by all centres. Various extraction and amplification methods were used. Fourteen centres reported results of internal controls. Most of the centres controlled only the amplification step and did not adjust the detection sensitivity of the internal control to the detection limit of the target. Three centres failed to detect one internal control in two positive samples and one negative sample. For quantification of HCMV DNA all centres used real-time quantitative PCR. CV of HCMV DNA load between centres were low (3.6-7%) except for one sample (13%), but this could be attributed to a heterogeneous preparation of this sample by the organisers. Using Student's t-test, no statistically significant difference was observed between HCMV load whatever the medium or the number of added cells. Conclusion: Results of this external quality assessment for molecular detection and quantification of HCMV DNA were excellent. Almost all centres used internal control of PCR inhibition; however, control of the whole PCR process, including extraction and better adjustment of the detection sensitivity of the internal control to the sensitivity limit of the PCR target is desirable. The most accurate way to identify false negative results, e.g. those caused by PCR inhibitors, in real-time PCR assays is to spike samples with an internal control that will be co-amplified with the target (pathogen) DNA. However, current internal control procedures, which usually involve the introduction of a DNA fragment, are complex, time consuming and expensive. We present a novel technique for simple internal control of real-time amplification assays. Methods: Single-stranded oligonucleotides, which contain little more than primer and probe binding sites, were used as internal controls in real-time PCR assays. Mismatches were included in the probe-binding region of the internal control oligonucleotide (ICO) to prevent probe-control hybridisation during the fluorescence acquisition step of the PCR. ICOs could be added directly to the sample material prior to DNA extraction. Results: To demonstrate the feasibility of the new approach, we designed ICOs for the following LightCycler hybridisation probe assays: Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, hepatitis B virus, herpes simplex virus and varicella zoster virus. In each case, the controls did not interfere with detection of the pathogen, but were clearly detectable during a subsequent melting point analysis of the PCR products. Conclusion: A single-stranded oligonucleotide, which mimics the target region of the pathogen yet is clearly distinguishable from the target during analysis, can serve as a simple, cost-effective internal control for real-time amplification assays. Such control oligonucleotides are easy to design and cheap. A costly second probe system is not necessary. Moreover, the internally controlled assay uses only one fluorescence detection channel of the instrument, leaving the second channel free for multiplex applications. Objectives: BioMérieux has developed a new nucleic acid isolation method (NucliSens Magnetic Extraction Reagents) that uses Boom chemistry in combination with magnetic silica particles. The NucliSens mini MAG instrument is facilitating the washing and collection of the silica particles in a user friendly and efficient way. In principle the extraction method is generic and can be applied to a broad range of different sample types. The objective of this study was to measure the performance of this new extraction platform in terms of RNA and DNA recovery, purity and integrity. In addition, user aspects were also addressed in the study. Methods: RNA recovery was measured by spiking E. coli RNA to human normal EDTA plasma, extracted RNA was quantified by using a fluorescence dye for RNA detection (SYBR Green II). DNA recovery was measured by spiking plasmid DNA (pBR322); extracted DNA was determined by A260 measurement. An indication of RNA and DNA purity was obtained by measuring A260/ A280 ratios. The integrity/intactness of the extracted nucleic acid was determined by gel analysis or by using the bioAnalyzer (Agilent Technologies) for RNA and DNA, respectively. The extraction method was tested on three external test sites in order to score relevant user aspects. Results: The average recovery rates were 83 and 85% for RNA and DNA, respectively. For RNA extracts an average A260/A280 ratio of 2.13 was measured, whereas for DNA this value was 1.82. These values indicate that the purity of both preparations is high since for pure preparation the expected values are 2.0 and 1.8 for RNA and DNA, respectively. In addition, it was found that both RNA and DNA were intact recovered since no degradation products were detected. In addition, all users scored the method as labour friendly. The total amount of time needed to process 12 samples was <60 min, the throughput time was improved further by using two instruments in parallel, in this way 24 samples can be completed within 90 min. In addition the method was also verified for a broad range of different sample types including plasma, serum, CSF, sputum and stool. DNA sequencing is the gold standard method for accurate genotyping of human papillomaviruses (HPV) and provides nucleic acid sequence information, which is the core of every organism. Pyrosequencing method has been successfully used for HPV genotyping with sequencing of only 14-21 bases. Multiple HPV infections are a common phenomenon in clinical samples with a varying rate depending on the group investigated. DNA sequencing techniques cannot differentiate between different genotypes as uninterruptible sequence results are obtained when multiples infections and unspecific amplification products are present in the amplicon. To address these problems, a type-specific multiplesequencing primer DNA sequencing strategy, suitable for genotyping and detection of HPV-6, -11, -16, -18, -31, -33 and -45 has been developed. In the new method seven type-specific sequencing primers, combined in a pool, are added to the DNA sample. The oligonucleotide hybridising to the DNA sample will function as a primer during the subsequent DNA sequencing procedure.

The new method is especially suited for detection and typing of samples harbouring different HPV genotypes (multiple infections) and unspecific amplifications, which eliminates the need for nested PCR, stringent PCR conditions and cloning. Furthermore, the method has proved to be useful for samples containing subdominant types/species, and samples with low PCR yield, which avoids re-performing 'failed' PCRs. We also introduce the sequence pattern recognition when there is a plurality of genotypes in the sample, which facilitates typing of more than one target DNA in the sample. Moreover, target specific sequencing primers could be easily tailored and adapted according to the desired applications or clinical settings based on regional prevalence of HPV as well as other microorganisms and viruses. As the cost for DNA sequencing is dropping, a sample could be sequenced in parallel with two or three different target specific primer pools covering a broader range of genotypes. The Pyrosequencing HPV detection assay is fully automated and could be used for detection and identification of different microorganisms and viruses.

Reagents to reference extraction methods for the isolation of RNA and DNA from various sample types Results: By performing several extractions (up to 12) of a dilution series of strain Coxacksie B5 in CSF, it was shown that the analytical sensitivity of the Enterovirus RT-PCR was found to be independent of the extraction method used, whereas in very low frequency higher sensitivities were obtained in combination with magnetic extraction. As expected the higher input samples gave better reproducible results than lower input samples. After evaluation of the Enterovirus PCR using CSF and stool samples a 100% correlation between the two extraction methods was found. In addition, using a broad panel of clinical specimens for M. tuberculosis PCR, the same samples were identified as positive using the Boom extraction method and magnetic extraction. However, the latter method resulted in less samples having inhibition in PCR, but this needs to be confirmed in a larger study group. Methods: 23 conjunctival scrapings were sent to our laboratory in 2 mL of viral transport medium and were inoculated to monolayers of A-549 and MRC-5 cells in tubes, incubated at 37 C in stationary phase, and scored daily for cytophathic effect (CPE) for 7 days or until CPE developed. When a characteristic Adenovirus CPE was observed (usually after 5 days of culture), a passage was done to two homologous monolayers in shell vials that were incubated 24 h at 37 C and stained with specific fluorescent reagents to Adenovirus. DNA from 0.2 mL of the remaining transport medium was purified by a commercial procedure and resuspended to a final volume of 50 lL. Five microlitres of this purified DNA was used for real-time amplification in a final 20 lL reaction volume, using 1Â Fast Start SYBR Green I master mix (Roche), MgCl 2 (3 mM M), and 0.5 lM M of each primer. The region amplified belongs to the hexon gene. Total processing time was less than 3 h. Results: Adenovirus was isolated in 10 of 23 samples processed by conventional cell culture and all theses culture-positive samples were positive by real-time PCR; of 13 samples testing negative with conventional cell culture, real-time PCR detected eight as negative and five as positive. Gel electrophoresis analysis showed amplification bands of the expected molecular weight in all these real-time PCR positive, cell culture negative samples. A control group of 20 samples from patients with bacterial conjunctivitis was tested and all of them were negative by PCR. A plasmid containing the HRV-5 sequence spiked into a negative synovial tissue or blood specimen was used as a positive control. Extracted DNA from a negative synovial tissue or blood specimen was included between every two specimens as a negative control. Suitability of DNA for PCR was verified using a PCR assay for beta-globin. Positive specimens were subjected to bidirectional sequencing. Fisher exact test (two-tailed) was used for statistical analysis. Results: All 600 specimens were positive for beta-globin (extraction control). Cloned HRV-5 proviral DNA spiked into tissue, mononuclear cells and granulocytes followed by extraction yielded an amplified product in all cases. The limit of detection of the assay was 166.6 copies/mL blood and 6.6 copies/mg tissue. Two hundred tissue specimens, 200 mononuclear cells, and 196 of 200 granulocyte specimens tested negative for HRV-5 proviral DNA. Two RA and two OA granulocyte specimens, however, yielded a positive signal for HRV-5 proviral DNA. All were detected at a low copy number (quantitated by comparison to a known quantity of cloned HRV-5 proviral DNA spiked into blood), range 83-1365 copies of HRV-5 proviral DNA/mL blood. All four showed 95-98% identity to GenBank sequence AF480924 by NCBI BLAST search. Conclusion: We did not find an association between HRV-5 and RA or OA ( P ¼ 0.516) using a real time PCR assay. Recently it has been shown that HRV-5 is actually rabbit endogenous retrovirus H (J Virol 2002: 76; 7094-7102). We hypothesise that experimental rabbit studies ongoing in our laboratory while the granulocyte specimens were being prepared account for the low level of 'HRV-5' proviral DNA detected in 0.7% of the specimens tested. Results: CSF virus load ranged from 10 2 to 5 Â 10 4 copies per millilitre. In comparison the virus load in vesicular fluid was 3 Â 10 6 copies per millilitre. The highest virus loads (5 Â 10 4 and 2 Â 10 4 ) were detected in a patient with paresis of facial nerve and a young patient with relatively mild disease. The lowest virus load (10 Â 10 2 copies per millilitre) had a child with varicella meningitis and an old patient with severe Herpes zoster of the trunk. Quantitative PCR has good reproducibility and is useful for assessment of viral load in CSF samples. However, the correlation between virus load and severity of illness remains uncertain. The purpose of this study was to develop enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the detection of IgG anti-HSV-2 activity using two new recombinant proteins as antigenic targets, and to evaluate these EIA with the aid of statistical methods. Methods: Fragments of glycoprotein G (gG-2), comprising residues 525 to 578aa of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and glycoprotein D of HSV-2 (gD-2(266-394aa)), were expressed in the E. coli as GST fusion proteins to develop an assay for the detection and HSV-2 type-specific antibodies. Results: A new enzyme immunoassay for the detection of IgG anti-HSV-2 (IgG-EIA) in sera was developed using two new recombinant proteins. The IgG-EIA was evaluated using serum specimens obtained from patients with culture-proven HSV-2 infection (CP) (n ¼ 13) and from normal blood donors (BD) (n ¼ 629). All specimens were additionally tested for IgG anti-HSV-2 activity by two commercially available EIAs. This new IgG-EIA detected anti-HSV2 activity in all specimens from HSV2 infected patients. When BD were tested the overall concordance between these three assays varied between 39 and 63.6%, concordance between positive samples ranged from 18.4 to 46.7%. In the absence of a gold standard the accuracy of these EIAs was assessed by the computer program based on a maximum likelihood approach using a 'latent class' model. This analysis estimated the IgG-EIA sensitivity and specificity to be within the range 98-100% and 95-100%, respectively. DNA was detected in one CSF specimen from a patient with aseptic meningitis, in three aqueous humor specimens from patients with uveitis, in one swab from a patient with herpetic vesicular skin lesions and in three conjunctival swabs from patients with conjunctivitis, and (b) VZV DNA was detected in two aqueous humor specimens from patients with iridocyclitis, in two swabs from patients with vesicular skin lesions, and in the vesicle aspirate and bronchoalveolar lavage from the patient with varicella pneumonitis. The precise diagnosis of herpetic infection was available within 24-48 h, which allowed for an early initiation of adapted antiviral therapy. Conclusion: The detection of the six commonest human herpesviruses in clinical specimens by the Herpesvirus Consensus PCR methodology allowed rapid, sensitive and specific results. Objectives: Bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) is the aetiological agent of many infections and may predispose infected animals, possibly through immunosupression, to secondary bacterial infections. Immunosupression may directly be associated with the induction of programmed cell death (PCD) in some virus infected cells. Nitric oxide (NO) has an important mediating role against fungal, bacterial, protozoal, viral pathogens and tumours. In this study, role of NO was questioned in the PCD process.

Methods: This study was planned in two consecutive stages. In the first stage, the morphological (with and without staurosporin) and biochemical changes caused by virus-induced PCD in MDBK cells were investigated. Morphological assessment of PCD was performed using Hoechst 33342 nuclear staining and fluorescence microscopy technique. In the second phase of the study, the induction of PCD with staurosporin (SS) (alone or with BHV-1 addition) and apoptotic route of BHV-1 infections (with/without staurosporin) were analysed by applying 1, 3, 8, 9 caspase inhibitors (R&D, Germany). Results: It was interesting to see that BHV-1 inhibited PCD following 1 h of poi instead of being induced by staurosporin and induced apoptosis alone between 0.5 and 3 h of poi in MDBK cells, however, between 3 and 6 h of poi, PCD response has found to be decreased. These results showed similarities with those obtained from herpes simplex type-1 infections in human epithelial cells. Following caspase 1, 3, 8, and 9 inhibitors applications PCD responses decreased after 1 h whereas NO responses increased following 3 h of infections with caspase 1, 3, 8, and 9 inhibitory peptides. Conclusion: In conclusion, BHV-1 inhibited the apoptotic response in a caspase-independent way and BHV-1 may modulate the NO response through the apoptotic pathways. Objectives: The aim of this study is the questioning the programmed cell death (PCD) process in acute phase of BHV-1 infection in cultured epithelial like cells' microenvironments and to investigate its relation with possible nitric oxide responses in HEp-2 cells infected with BHV-1 with and without staurosporin induction.

Methods: This study was planned in two consecutive stages. In the first stage, the morphological (with and without staurosporin) and biochemical changes caused by virus-induced PCD in HEp-2 cells were investigated. Morphological assessment of PCD was performed using Hoechst 33342 nuclear staining and fluorescence microscopy technique. In the second phase of the study, the induction of PCD with staurosporin (SS) (alone or with BHV-1 addition) and apoptotic route of BHV-1 infections (with/without staurosporin) were analysed by applying 1, 3, 8, 9, and total caspase inhibitors (R&D, Germany). Results: It is known that following HSV-1 infection of 3-6 h of poi anti-apoptotic activity is triggered in human cells. And this activity is through caspase 3. It is interesting to see that in these experiments following 1 h of BHV-1 infection the number of apoptotic cells reduced whereas NO response continuously increased following 1-h poi. Conclusion: Anti-apoptotic activity of BHV-1 seems to be activated through caspase 3 like HSV-1, and this inversely proportional relation between NO and PCD responses seem to be related with the triggering effect of NO on PCD response. This effect was explained as non-specific stimulation of the host immune system. However, direct anti-viral effect cannot be excluded. The goal of present study was to evaluate the effect of probi-otics strains derivative metabolites on the reproduction of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Materials and methods: Probiotic strains used were: Lactobacillus plantarum 8A-P3, Enterococcus faecium-L3, Escherichia coli M17. One hundred and six Vero cells were infected with 103-104 ID of HSV-1 and then incubated with supernatants from bacteria or bacteriocin preparations applied in serial dilutions. Acyclovir 20% (Lek, Slovenia) was used as anti-viral drug control. Cytopathic effect of the virus was determined by light or immunoflourescence microscopy after 72 h. Results: HSV-1 alone or in the presence of the E. coli M17 extracts caused the most profound cytopathic effect. Addition of acyclovir completely inactivated the effect of the virus that was taken for 100%. Supernatants obtained from L. plantarum, and E. faecium generated dose dependant effect from 90 to 35% of viral inhibi-tion. E. faecium strain L-3 extract was 10-20% more active than L. plantarum. Extract from the strain L-3 was analysed for the presence of bacteriocins. Two types of peptides were determined -enterocin A and enterocin B (5.5-5.6 kD). Bacteriocin preparation demonstrated similar anti-viral effect (65-85% of inhibition) which allows to consider enterococcal bacteriocins as major antiviral agents in present model. Conclusions: Extracts of several probiotic bacterial strains express a specific activity against reproduction of HSV-1 in vitro. Antiviral effect of E. faecium strain L-3 was the strongest due to the presence of enterocins A and B in the supernatant. Acknowledgement: Work was supported by Public Health Service grants AI19304 and TW00188 from NIH, grant 03-04-49760 from RFFI and regional foundation of support to new technologies in medicine. we detected 13 ribotypes, among toxin B producing strains (TcdAÀTcdB+) only one ribotype was detected. Among non-toxigenic strains four ribotypes were detected. It seemed to be interesting to observe the dominating ribotypes. Between toxigenic (TcdA+TcdB+) five belonged to ribotype 014 and four to 046. All strains (n ¼ 20) (TcdAÀTcdB+) belonged to one ribotype -017. In summary, PCR-ribotyping is a good method to discriminate C. difficile strains. We decided to continue further epidemiological study in Poland. Objectives: The aim of the study was to identify risk factors of C. difficile-associated diarrhoea due to ADP-ribosyl transferase producing strains. Materials and Method: A retrospective case control study was performed. Each case (patient with a diarrhoea due to an actin-specific ADP-ribosyl transferase producing strain) was compared with two controls (patient with diarrhoea due to a C. difficile strain which does not produce an actin-specific ADP-ribosyl transferase) matched on ward and on date of hospitalisation. CdtA and cdtB genes were screened by PCR (Stubbs et al., FEMS Microbiol Letters 2000; 186; 307-312) . Production of CDT was studied by Western blot using an antiserum anti Ia and Ib from C. perfringens and the activity of the toxin was assessed using an ADP-ribosyl transferase assay. Results: Twenty-six cases (14 males and 12 females) were identified in 1999 and 2000. They were hospitalised in six different hospitals of Paris and its surrounding area. All the CDT positive strains were also positive for toxins A and B. Cases were compared with 42 controls. Cases and controls did not differ significantly for sex, age, previous administration of antibiotics, of chemotherapy or immunosuppressive treatment. Endoscopic examination was performed in 30.5% of cases and in 23.8% of controls (P ¼ 0.52) and frequency of mucosal abnormalities was similar. Diarrhoea was more often community-acquired in cases than in controls (65.4 vs. 35.7%, P ¼ 0.017) and represented more often the cause of hospitalisation (61.5 vs. 26.2%, P ¼ 0.003). Moreover, diarrhoea from cases was more frequently associated to abdominal pain (63.6 vs. 39.4%, P ¼ 0.007) and to liquid stools (76.9 vs. 59.5%, P ¼ 0.14). Conclusions: These results suggest that there could be a correlation between the production of binary toxin and the severity of diarrhoea. The binary toxin could induce intestinal lesion independently of toxins A and B or it may act in synergy with these toxins. Methods: Outbreak was detected by the C. difficile surveillance programme survey of the Infection Control Unit. C. difficile infection was diagnosed by stool culture and by detection of toxin A with a qualitative rapid immunoassay. Isolates of C. difficile were genotyped using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Results: Incidence of C. difficile-associated diarrhoea increased from 16 cases per 100 000 patient-days before to 90 cases per 100 000 patient-days during the outbreak. This outbreak involved 21 patients of four geriatrics wards, located on two geographically distinct sites (with the same medical team). Mean age was 83 (range 71-100) years; sex-ratio (F/M) ¼ 1.1; 90% (19/21) of cases had received one or more antibiotics before onset of diarrhoea. About 24% (5/21) of cases were long-term care facilities-acquired diarrhoea, and secondary hospital transmission resulted in three clusters involving 16 cases. Serotyping and genotyping were performed on isolates from 19 different stools; 16 of these strains belonged to the same type A1 whereas three displayed profiles different from the outbreak strain. Management of this outbreak consisted in reinforcement of contact isolation precautions for patients with diarrhoea, cohortage of infected patients in the same ward and in promotion of hand disinfection with an alcoholic solution. Environmental disinfection with hypochlorite was introduced during the outbreak. The ward where most transmission occurred was closed during 10 days for a completed disinfection after last patient discharge. After resolution of the outbreak, incidence for acquisition was 12 cases per 100 000 patient-days. Ninety per cent (19/21) of patients were treated by metronidazole or vancomycin. Relapses occurred in 29% (6/21) of patients. Two patients died with severe colitis. Mean hospital stay was 39 (range 11-97) days (annual mean of length of stay in the department ¼ 21 days). Conclusion: Rapid control of this nosocomial outbreak of C. difficile among geriatric patients was obtained with early implementation of cohortage and ward closure associated to reinforcement of environmental disinfection, hand hygiene and enteric isolation. Introduction: Toxigenic Clostridium difficile is the main cause of nosocomial diarrhoea and has recently been described as involved in community acquired infections. Two main toxins have been classically described as the main virulence factors although strains that lack one of them are emerging with increasing frequency. Objective: We aimed to characterise toxigenic phenotypes in an institution with high prevalence of C. difficile-associated diarrhoea (CDAD). Materials and methods: C. difficile isolates were obtained and collected over a 6-month period from diarrheic stools submitted to our laboratory. Specimens were cultured in CCFA plates with blood and presumptive colonies identified by standard procedures. Toxin B was detected with a standard cytotoxicity assay on human fibroblast culture using both diluted samples and pure broth cultures of the microorganism. Toxin A was detected by a commercial enzyme-immunoassay (CdTOX A OIA, BioStar, Finland) using colony suspensions in order to increase the sensitivity of the test. All negative results for any of both toxins were checked by PCR using previously published primers and conditions. Results: A total of 220 C. difficile isolates were obtained during the study period. One hundred and ninety-nine isolates (90.5%) produced both toxins (A+B+); 10 isolates (4.5%) were classified as non-toxigenic (AÀBÀ) by phenotypic procedures; in 11 isolates (5%) only toxin B was detected (AÀB+), while no isolates were classified as producers of toxin A exclusively (A+BÀ). All non-toxigenic strains showed PCR positive results for gene B and four of them also for gene A (six isolates were AÀB+ and four were A+B+). From all AÀB+ isolates, only five were confirmed by PCR, while in six of them, toxin A gene was also detected. Conclusion: The vast majority of C. difficile isolates obtained in our laboratory were toxigenic (A+B+) by traditional approaches. We have detected, using classical methods and confirmation by PCR, the presence of AÀB+ isolates in our collection. All isolates considered as non-toxigenic by phenotypical methods were PCR-positive for one or both toxins. Disagreements between results of phenotypical and genetic methods can be justified as the presence of incomplete or unexpressed genes or a lack of sensitivity of the former methods. Background: It has been estimated that the extra cost to the NHS for every patient that contracts C. difficile in hospital is £4000. In light of this it seemed imperative that the possible components involved in the mode of transmission of this nosocomial infection be investigated with a view to control the spread. Objective: To look at the level of contamination of health care workers' hands with C. difficile after dealing with a known positive patient. Methods: Hands were sampled using the finger streak method on a C. difficile moxalactam norfloxacin (CDMN) agar plate. Plates were incubated for 48 h under anaerobic conditions and then examined for any possible colonies of C. difficile. These were identified using the Gram stain and RapID ANA II system. Hands were sampled directly after patient contact and the type of contact was also noted. Hands were also sampled after the removal of gloves and after hand washing. In all, 54 duplicate samples were taken after various contacts with 14 colonised patients. Results: 21% of samples taken immediately after patient contact were positive. Nine per cent of samples taken after the removal of gloves were positive. No samples taken after hand washing were positive. Conclusion: This study showed that hands do readily and regularly become contaminated after contact with a known positive patient and that this contamination can follow fairly minimal contact with the patient. Objectives: During the conduct of a Phase 2 clinical trial on the efficacy of tolevamer 1 or 2 g TID for 14 days compared with vancomycin 125 mg QID for 10 days, we collected serial faecal samples on study entry, days 4, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28 and 42 to determine if non-antibiotic therapy can neutralise C. difficile toxin B in faecal filtrates, promote restoration of the normal microbiota and achieve clinical response. Methods: 33 patients were randomised into the study at Calgary study sites (out of 289 patients/58 centres). Faecal filtrate concentrations of C. difficile cytotoxin B, quantitative counts of C. difficile vegetative organisms, C. difficile spore counts were determined. Quantitative aerobic/anaerobic cultures using serial dilutions of faeces 10E-3,5,7,9,11 g À1 wet weight were performed using criteria as outlined in the Wadsworth Anaerobe Laboratory Manual. Stools from healthy donors served as normal microflora controls. Results: Thirty of 33 patients provided one or more samples, and 22/30 provided serial samples beyond 7 days and up to 42 days. Normal flora controls showed an average of four different Bacteroides species in counts of 10 10À12 g À1 faeces wet weight, plus other anaerobic genera in a more inconsistent manner. Using Bacteroides species as a marker genus for the anaerobic microflora, 15, 8, and 7 patients had bacteroides counts below the limit of detection, between 10 3À8 , or >10 8 CFU/g faeces, respectively, at study entry. Vancomycin treatment eliminated vegetative C. difficile with variable spore persistence, and the Bacteroides genera remained suppressed in the majority of patients during and after the course of therapy. On the other hand, response to tolemaver therapy appears to be accounted for by the inter-relationship between toxin neutralisation, C. difficile growth/persistence, and the pattern of recovery of the microflora. In general, patients who responded to toxin binding therapy exhibited non-emergence of toxin combined with increase in the numbers of anaerobic organisms. Recovery of the anaerobic microflora appeared not to be complete at 14 days in the majority of patients. Objectives: The treatment of choice for A. baumannii bacteraemia has not been established. There are few data to guide the selection of agents for treating these infections. Carbapenems are generally considered the drugs of choice, but an increasing of the resistant strains has been described. Several alternatives guide lines have been proposed: ampicillin-sulbactam (SAM) alone or associated with an aminoglycoside, piperacillin-tazobactam (TZP) or tetracyclines. The aim of this study is to know the best alternative in the empirical treatment of these infections according to the temporal evolution of the nosocomial outbreaks or endemic infections in our hospital. Methods: From June 1995 to December 2001 we collected all A. baumannii strains from bacteraemia infections and their related focus. All the isolates were characterised by molecular methods in order to obtain different clones using PFGE and REP-PCR. Susceptibility study was performed by disk diffusion to 23 antibiotics and MIC-E-Test in the mainly treatment alternatives (imipenem, meropenem, SAM, TZP, tobramicine (TM), amikacine (AN), and ceftazidime) and interpreted according to NCCLS criteria. Results: In 1995-1996 the empirical antimicrobial treatment (EAT) of choice was imipenem because all 64 isolates were carbapenem sensible (S), with two mainly molecular clones (34 isolates C1-aminoglycosides resistant (R), and 30 C2-gentamicin-R, but AN, netilmicin and TM-S). According to detection of an outbreak carbapenem-R in 1997 (153 of the 163 isolates) clone C3 multiresistant (only some strains SAM or AN-TN-sensible) the EAT changed to SAM and AN or TM. This clone was persistent until 1999 and replaced with another multiresistant outbreak (C3B -94% SAM-R and 25-75% aminoglycosides-R). Then the EAT was chosen as monotherapy with AN or TN (the only ones sensible of the 23 antimicrobial tested). In the last period (2000-2001) emerges a new clone (C5-carbapenems, SAM, aminoglycosides and doxycycline-S) and imipenem returns like the actual EAT in our hospital to control bloodstream A. baumannii infections. Conclusions: Empirical antimicrobial treatment on patients with bloodstream A. baumannii infections in a hospital, with changes in the temporal evolution of the clones associated to outbreaks or endemic infections must be established according to the susceptibility test and molecular characterisation of the strains in different clones.

gentamicin-resistant enterococci in paediatric blood-stream infections in a tertiary hospital in Tanzania B. Blomberg, S.C. Mohn, K.P. Manji, N. Langeland on behalf of the joint study group on antimicrobial resistance at Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and the University of Bergen, Norway

Objectives: Enterococci have emerged as major pathogens causing urinary tract, wound and blood stream infections (BSI). Nosocomial spread of enterococci resistant to multiple antimicrobials is a great therapeutic challenge. Little is known about the role of these pathogens in BSI in East Africa. The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence and resistance patterns of enterococcal isolates causing BSI in children at Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods: Blood cultures were obtained from 1789 children (age 0-7 years) with fever or signs of serious infection admitted to the hospital during the period August 2001 to August 2002. Isolates were identified by standard methods. The identities of Enterococcus fecalis and E. faecium isolates were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the isolates were susceptibility tested by E-test and assessed for genetic relatedness by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Twelve E. faecium isolates were also investigated by MLST. Results: Thirty-two of 1789 children (1.8%) had growth of enterococcal isolates in blood culture. Nine of 17 E. faecium isolates showed combined resistance to ampicillin (ARE), ciprofloxacin and high-level gentamicin resistance (HLGRE). Six of 15 E. fecalis isolates were HLGRE, but none of these were resistant to ampicillin or ciprofloxacin. All except one of the HLGRE were also resistant to chloramphenicol. The resistant strains were recovered from several geographically separated wards, including the neonatal ward. The majority of the E. faecium and E. fecalis were closely related when investigated by PFGE. MLST conducted on 12 E. faecium strains also confirmed this result. Conclusion: This is the first study to identify outbreaks of bloodstream infections caused by combined ARE/HLGRE E. faecium and HLGRE E. fecalis in Tanzania. E. faecium was more frequent than E. fecalis. The commonly used treatment regimens at the hospital (ampicillin and gentamicin or penicillin and chloramphenicol) are insufficient for infections caused by ARE/HLGRE enterococci. nonrepetitive (one per patient) resistant to FOX K. pneumoniae strains were isolated from clinical specimens (10 from blood, two from bronchial secretions, four from urine, two from wound and five from catheter tips). Patients were cared in different wards including intensive care unit (ICU) and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Species identification was done by using the Vitek system (bioMerieux, France). MICs were determined with Vitek automated microdilution system and by disk diffusion method. The criteria of the NCCLS were used to define susceptibility or resistance to antimicrobial agents. Expanded spectrum a-lactamase (ESBL) production was assessed by the double disk synergy test. The isolates were typed by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) PCR with the ERIC-2 primer. Isoelectric focusing (IEF) of blactamases was performed to representative group isolates. Results: Antimicrobial profiles demonstrated that all isolates were resistant to third-generation cephalosporins, to aztreonam, cefoxitin, amoxicillin/clavulanate, ticarcillin/clavulanate and piperacillin/tazobactam. Four isolates were also resistant to cefepime and cefpirome. All isolates were susceptible to imipenem. IEF showed that all isolates expressed two b-lactamases, one with pI of 8.2 which correlated with the SHV-5 and one with pI of 9.1 which corresponded to LAT-2. ERIC-PCR analysis demonstrated three strain types. Type I, consisting of two subtypes, was common to 15 strains, indicating that the clonal spread was mainly responsible for the outbreak. Type II comprised two isolates and type III was unique. Five isolates were not identified with ERIC-PCR. Conclusions: K. pneumoniae strains, harbouring plasmid-coding for AmpC-type b-lactamase, have been established in our hospital. Nosocomial infection surveillance, such as restriction of particular antibiotics and adjustment of the infection control measures, has been recommended.

Acinetobacter baumannii producing the PER-1 extendedspectrum b-lactamase

Objectives: Recently PER-1 extended-spectrum b-lactamase (ESBL) was discovered in a Peudomonas aeruginosa strain in France and was subsequently detected in Acinetobacter spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in other countries including Turkey. The purpose of this study was to clarify the molecular epidemiology of infection caused by a strain of cefepime-resistant A. baumannii and also to determine the mechanism of drug resistance. Methods: Cefepime-resistant A. baumannii strains were isolated from clinical specimens of nine patients hospitalised in an intensive care unit in Busan, Korea. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were determined by the disk diffusion and agar dilution methods. The double disk synergy (DDS) test was performed for screening of ESBL production. Isoelectric focusing and conjugation experiments were performed. blaPER-1 and blaPER-2 alleles were detected by PCR, and sequences of amplified products were determined by using the dideoxy-chain termination method. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed for molecular typing of isolates. Results: The isolates showed same antimicrobial susceptibility pattern, positive DDS results and PFGE patterns. The isolates contained three b-lactamase bands: pI 5.3, 7.9, and 9.4. PCR-based experiments detected blaPER-1 genes. MICs of ampicillin, piperacillin, cephalothin, cefoxitin, cefoperazone, ceftazidime, cefotaxime, cefepime, and aztreonam to these isolates were !256 mg/L, respectively, and those of imipenem were 8-16 mg/L. Despite repeated attempts, the resistance to cefepime of A. baumannii isolates was not transferred to the recipient. Conclusions: A. baumannii isolates from clinical specimens of nine patients hospitalised in a same intensive care unit were shown to be of the same clone. All these isolates contained blaPER-1 gene which caused resistance to cefepime. To the best of our knowledge, outbreaks caused by PER-1 ESBL-producing A. baumannii have not previously been described. Objectives: Hospital outbreaks of Salmonella spp. infections are not uncommon not only in Europe but also in the United States, but in neonatal Units it is rarer. The maternity unit has approximately 4000 deliveries each year. We described the results as well as infection control that stopped the outbreak. Methods: From October 2001 to January 2002 six neonates were infected in the neonatal Unit of our Hospital. The index case corresponding to a newborn delivered in our Hospital, she was born by normal vaginal delivery. The 15-day-old patient was admitted again by neurological deficits. Seven days at the Hospital she developed diarrhoea. The group included five prematures, only case index was not premature. All stool specimens from family case index were negative. Stool samples were request for culture from asymtomatic staff and all babies from the neonatal Unit (n ¼ 66). The isolates were identified by standard methods and serotyped by agglutination with monospecific antisera. The antibiotics (AB) taken in the study were: ampicillin (A), ticarcillin (T), amoxicillin/clavulanate (A/C), cefalothin (CE), ciprofloxacin (CP), co-trimoxazole (CO), nalidixic acid (NA), gentamicin (G), thirdgeneration cephalosporins (3GC). Its was evaluated by a microdilution method and confirmation by E-test. Results: Eight strains of Salmonella enteritidis serotype O 9,12:H g,m were identified. The phage type (PT) involved was same in all cases, PT 6a. Seven were isolated from faeces and one from blood culture. All isolates demonstrated same antibiotic susceptibility pattern with resistance to ampicillin and ticarcillin. Fortunately no babies died. No salmonella from stools of nurses, staff personnel and mothers was isolated. Conclusions: A hand washing was not sufficiently frequent the infection was probably transmitted by hand contact to prepared milk, infusion and other equipment from the index case. This hypothesis was subsequently confirmed as the outbreak was terminated after eradication of the presumed contamination sources by changing the mattresses, disinfecting the unit and ensuring strict observance of hand washing before and after every manipulation. Salmonella enteritidis PT6 is third commonest phage type in Spain. Objectives: To investigate the cause of an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolations following bronchoscopic procedures. Methods: From 16 to 31 January 2003, we detected a cluster of P. aeruginosa isolates associated with bronchoscopy (nine samples from eight patients). Laboratory culture, bronchoscope and medical records of all cases were reviewed. All of them were related with one bronchoscope and environmental samples were obtained from it. Microbiological identification and susceptibility testing were performed with the MicroScan Walkaway 40 System (Dade Behring). Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA analysis (RAPD) and Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) were performed on all available isolates of P. aeruginosa (eight clinical isolates from seven patients and six bronchoscope related isolates). Results: Two of the eight patients showed clinical evidence of infection and required specific antimicrobial therapy (the index case and other patient with two isolates separated by 8 days). All isolates were ceftazidime, aminoglycosides and ciprofloxacin susceptible and imipenem resistant. RAPD and PFGE patterns revealed that all the clinical and bronchoscope isolates (eight and six, respectively) were indistinguishable. The bronchoscope was replaced and no further cases appeared. Conclusions: We documented contamination of a bronchoscope with P. aeruginosa and possible secondary infection of at least one patient. Microbiologists have an essential role in the detection of medical devices contamination, especially by surveillance of the emergence of infrequent bacterial recovery. In all three cases Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated from the blood cultures. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiological relation among the isolates and to try to find a common source for the infection. Methods: Environmental samples, including different i.v. fluids and drugs, and skin samples were obtained in order to detect the source of the infection. Microbial identification and in vitro susceptibility tests were carried out automatically with the MicroScan System (DADE). Clinical isolates were molecular typed by Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) using one 10mer oligonucleotide, PCR-Ribotyping with oligonucleotide of the intergenic 16S/23S region and PFGE using XbaI as a restriction enzyme. An unrelated strain was also included in all the experiments, as a control, in order to check the discrimination power of the techniques. Results: All three clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae obtained from blood cultures shared the same biotype and antibiotype, and were all resistant to ampicillin, gentamycin and tobramycin. Molecular typing methods proved clonal identities among the clinical strains. Patterns generated were different from those of the control strain. The source of the infection could not be demonstrated in any of the environmental or newborn skin samples. Conclusions: A single K. pneumoniae strain was the cause of the fulminant sepsis in the three newborns. All three molecular typing methods, RAPD, PCR-Ribotyping and PFGE accurately demonstrated clonal identities of the isolates. The common source of the infection could not be detected due, probably, to the logical delay in culture growth and identification. The objectives of this presentation are to describe the outbreak and the infection control measures implemented, and to constitute an example for handling possible future outbreaks with limited resources. This is the first EKC outbreak reported from Turkey. Methods: Eye clinic of KOU Hospital is equipped with modern devices; however it has limited physical conditions (e.g. insufficient hand-washing facilities) because of temporary settlement of the hospital after the earthquake of 1999.On 12 December 2001, the Infection Control Team (ICT) was alerted to EKC cases. An investigation began and infection control measures (ICM) were implemented. Conjunctival swabs of patients with EKC and environmental swabs were obtained and studied in GATA and Hacettepe University microbiology laboratories. Infection control protocol (ICP) was implemented as recommended by APIC guidelines with some modifications. In addition, terminal disinfection (TD) was applied two times and after TDs clinic was closed for first 2 and than 4 days (Figure 1) . Results: A total of 116 EKC cases were diagnosed among the 1033 patients who visited the eye clinic during the outbreak (General attack rate: 11.2%). Seventy-five of the EKC cases were male and average age was 41.39 AE 21.98 (range: 6 months to 85 years). Primary and secondary attack rates were found to be 26 and 119%, respectively. Adenovirus type D was isolated from patient samples, biomicroscope and device solution. With the implementation of ICP and TD, EKC cases decreased by time and outbreak disappeared about 14 days after the second TD and closing the clinic for four days (Figure 1) . Conclusion: This is the first outbreak reported from Turkey. Isolation of virus from biomicroscope and device solutions which are used for more than one patient is an evidence of transmission from environment. Although several reports have described ICM that terminated outbreaks of nosocomial EKC, this study demonstrates that implementing TD and/or closing the clinic for four days in addition to ICM, may control nosocomial EKC outbreaks. Background: Because of severity of underlying disease, multiple venous accesses, parenteral nutrition and often increased length of stay, intensive care unit (ICU) patients are at increased risk for catheter-related candidemia (CRC). We investigated health and economic outcomes in ICU patients with CRC. Methods: In a retrospective matched cohort study (1992) (1993) (1994) (1995) (1996) (1997) (1998) (1999) (2000) (2001) (2002) attributable mortality and excess length of stay for CRC was investigated. Matching was (1:2 ratio) based on severity of underlying disease and acute illness (APACHE II score and admission diagnosis) and length of ICU stay prior to the onset of the candidemia. As expected mortality can be derived from APACHE II; this matching procedure results in an equal prognosis for cases and control subjects. Attributable mortality is determined by subtracting the hospital mortality rate of the controls from this of the candidemic cases. Excesses in length of ICU stay and hospitalisation were determined by subtracting the median length of stay of the controls from this of the cases. Results: During the study period 21 ICU patients developed a microbiologically documented CRC (out of a total of 83 candidemic patients). Nineteen catheters were removed within 24 h. Cases (n ¼ 21) and controls (n ¼ 42) had an equal age (resp. 49 AE 20 vs. 53 AE 19 year; P ¼ 0.470), APACHE II score (resp. 23 AE 8 vs. 23 AE 8; P ¼ 0.754) and incidence of respiratory failure (95 vs. 86%; P ¼ 0.479), acute renal failure (33 vs. 14%; P ¼ 0.153) and haemodynamic instability (76 vs. 69%; P ¼ 0.767). The excess length of ICU stay was 11 days (median 31 vs. 20 days; P ¼ 0.002). Although patients with CRC had a longer length of hospital stay this difference was not significant (52 vs. 30 days; P ¼ 0.508). The attributable mortality of CRC was 19.1% (95% CI: À6 to 44%) as hospital mortality rates in cases and controls were 42.9 and 23.8%, respectively (P ¼ 0.207). Conclusion: Our data revealed that, after careful adjustment for severity of underlying disease and acute illness, CRC is not associated with a significantly higher mortality in ICU patients. It is, however, associated with a significant excess in length of ICU stay, thereby representing an important economic burden. Patients were hospitalised in two Internal Medicine departments, two Surgical departments, the Nephrology department and the Intensive Care Unit, during the period July 2001 to November 2003. The catheter tips were cultured using the following methods: (a) Semi-quantitative Maki's and co. and (b) quantitative Cleri's and co. Samples for culture were taken also from the site of catheter insertion into the skin and from the hub. Blood culture samples were taken from a peripheral vein in cases of clinical suspicion of bacteraemia or sepsis and they were incubated using the BactAlert (Organon Teknika) automated system for 6 days. Results: 33 cases of CCBRI were recorded. The incidence of CCBRI was 9.3 per 1000 catheter days. In 29 of the 33 cases of CCBRI the origin of colonisation was determined. In 10 cases which all had positive catheter tip and hub cultures with the same strain, the Gram-negative bacteria prevailed (6/10, analytically E. aerogenes three, K. pneumoniae two and P. aeruginosa one) while in four cases Candida spp. (three cases) and coagulase negative staphylococcus (CoNS) (one case) were isolated. In contrast, in 19 cases of CCBRI with positive catheter tip and skin point entry cultures with the same strain, the Gram-positive bacteria prevailed (15/19, analytically S. aureus eight, CoNS six and Corynobacterium spp. one). Conclusions: (1) The incidence of CCBRI was 9.3 per 1000 catheter days.

(2) CCBRI caused from Gram-positive bacteria was mainly derived from the catheter site entry, whilst colonisation of hub caused mainly Gram-negative CCBRI. (3) The preventive measures should be focused on better aseptic techniques and hand hygiene, care of the catheter's entry site and better training of the medical staff. We studied 104 patients, suspect for catheter-related infections (CRI) -52 from ICU and 52 from HDU with central venous catheters used for parenteral nutrition, drug administration or haemodialysis. The preferred vein in ICU was v.subclavia, 48, and in HDU, v. femoralis, 50 catheters. Mean duration of catheterisation -10 days in ICU and 22.8 days in HDU. Signs for colonisation of the catheters were found in 57 cases -32 in ICU and 25 in HDU. The most common microorganisms in ICU were Gram-negative rods (KESgroup, B. cepacia, Pseudomonas spp.) -21 (65.6%) followed by Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) -10 (31.2%). In HDU in most of cases were isolated CNS -19 (73.0%) and S. aureus -4 (15.3%) (P < 0.01). As catheter-related bacteraemias (CRB) were considered in 16 cases, 11 of them in ICU and 5 in HDU. Causative microorganisms of CRB in ICU were most Gram-negative rods -9(81.8%) and Syaphylococcus spp. 3 (60.0%) in HDU (P < 0.01). Conclusions: The frequency of CRB in ICU is significantly higher, 21.1-9.6%, in HDU (P < 0.01).They developed earlier and were caused by Gram-negative rods. More probable way to development of CRB in ICU is the catheter hub and HDU is the skin of the patients. Catheter-related infection (CRI) is considered as a cause of increased Hospital morbidity but its influence on Hospital mortality remains a matter of debate. In critically ill patients, baseline severity, underlying conditions and various confounding factors may explain the observed increased mortality rather than CRI itself. In order to determine the influence of CRI on Hospital mortality in ICU, all episodes of nosocomial septicaemia were reviewed. Material and methods: Retrospective analysis of all nosocomial septicaemia occurring over a 7-year period in a teaching Hospital. Septicaemia episodes were separated in secondary, primary and proven catheter-related bloodstream infections. Baseline severity (SAPS score), delay between admission and infection, and Hospital mortality were determined. Results: Over this 7-year period, 195 853 patients were admitted to the Hospital and 2720 episodes of CRI were recorded (1.38%, 1.5/1000 Catheter-day (KTD)). Hospital mortality for all septicaemia was 21.7% while mortality related to secondary septicaemia was 28.5% (P < 0.05). During the same period, 22 313 patients were admitted to the ICU, corresponding to 81 740 KTD. Four hundred twenty-four episodes of septicaemia occurred in these patients (5/1000 KTD), of which 166 were primary septicaemia and 87 were proven CRI (1.06/1000 KTD). Mean SAPS score for all ICU patients was 30 and Hospital mortality 6.9%. ICU patients developing infection had a mean baseline SAPS score >40. CRI occurred more than 2 weeks after ICU admission (median : 14 days, mean 20.5 days). Pathogen-associated CRI were SCN 31%, S. Aureus 18%, E. faecalis 12%, Candida spp. 10%, Other 29%. Hospital mortality in patients developing CRI was 42/87 (48.2%). Conclusions: In this study, Hospital mortality in Critically Ill patients developing CRI was high but seemed to be primarily determined by baseline severity and underlying conditions as reflected by SAPS score and prolonged delay between ICU admission and septicaemia. 

Staphylococcus epidermidis is the most important pathogen of these systemic infections. Objectives: To study the genomic DNA profiles of S. epidermidis isolated from catheter-related infections and bloodstream infections comparing with the strains isolated from skin and nasal swab in patients hospitalised in a tertiary care university hospital. Methods: Catheter-related infections were defined according to the CDC definitions. Patients with a culture for S. epidermidis from blood and catheter tip (>15 CFU) were selected to have swabs from skin and nasal for S. epidermidis. The S. epidermidis were typed using PFGE, antibiotic susceptibility testing and biofilm detection, by Congo red method, were performed. Results: Twelve patients with 17 episodes of catheter-related infections were included in this study and 255 strains were analysed. In 10 episodes, the same DNA profile was detected in CVC/blood and in the skin/nasal and in seven episodes the clone causing CVC/blood infections were not found in skin/nasal. The mean time of isolation of S. epidermidis with clonal relation between CVC/blood and skin/ nasal colonisation from the first day of hospitalisation until the detection in CVC/blood was 25.3 days. In episodes without S. epidermidis clonal relation, the mean time was 13.7 days. PFGE identified three hospital endemic profiles that were present in 46.6% (119/225) of all strains from 10 episodes, including the strains from CVC/blood infections and in skin/nasal colonisation. In the strains from skin/nasal colonisation, the endemic profiles were present in 47.9% (93/194) of the strains. The endemic DNA profiles were biofilm producers and were resistant to penicillin G, oxacillin and ciprofloxacin, variable susceptibility to aminoglycosides and were susceptible to vancomycin. Conclusion: Patients with long term hospitalisation were previously colonised by hospital endemic S. epidermidis strains that were responsible for catheter-related infections. , and requiring a CVC were included in this retrospective cohort. The following data were analysed: patient and CVC characteristics, risk factors and microbiological results. The diagnosis of CVC-RI was based on Brun-Buisson methodology (1987) . The comparisons were done using the Chi-square and Student's t-tests. A multiple logistic-regression model was used to identify risk factors of CVC-RI according to their adjusted odds ratio (aOR; 95% CI) and completed by a survival analysis adjusted on duration of hospitalisation and CVC, the unit and the timing of CVC implementation (before or after admission in the unit). Results: A total of 89 patients were included who required 102 CVC (60 CVC were implanted as per the hospitalisation in this study units [Gr#1] and 42 before the patient admission in this same units [Gr#2]). The total of catheter days was 1086 (respectively 581 for Gr#1 and 505 for Gr#2). The number of CVC-RI was 21 that is 20.6% of CVC and the incidence rate per patient was 21%. The part number of CVC-RI were respectively 9 (15%) for Gr#1and 12 (28.6%) for Gr#2. The incidence density of CVC-RI was 1.93/100 catheter days for the totally cohort, 1.55/100 for Gr#1 and 2.38/100 for Gr#2. In the totally cohort CVC-RI was monomicrobial in 16 cases (76.2%). In that case the most prevalent bacteria were: Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. (43.8%) and Staphylococcus aureus (37.5%) and in case of plurimicrobial infection the most prevalent agents were: Staphylococcus aureus (60%), Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. and Enterococcus faecalis (40% for each). Intestinum somatoplasty was not was a risk factor for CVC-RI in this study. The crude mortality rate was 5.3% (1/19) and 10% (7/70) for CVC-RI and non-CVC-RI, respectively (P ¼ 0.5). Conclusion: In these surgical units, the incidence of CVC-RI is high and was related to the frequency of manipulations of the line such as infusion, parenteral nutrition, injections and dressing even after adjustment on the duration of CVC and timing of CVC implantation. An intervention focused on these risk factors is planned to reduced CVC-RI and improve the quality of care. Case 1: a schizophrenic 41-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of fever of 2 weeks duration; he was affected by diabetes type II and NH lymphoma diagnosed 6 months earlier and treated with chemotherapy through a Groshong CVC and, subsequently, with chronic steroid. Multiple blood cultures, performed from CVC and peripheric veins, were positive for E. faecalis and E. coli; the patient was treated with ceftriaxone 2 g ev qid Â2w + lock-in therapy with teicoplanin 60 mg (in 3 mL) and ciprofloxacin 6 mg (in 3 mL) for 6 h a day for 10 days. It was obtained a clinical and microbiological resolution without removal of CVC. Case 2: a 49-year-old man was admitted to the hospital for septic fever; 3 months earlier a Groshong CVC had been placed to treat with chemotherapy a rhinopharyngeal carcinoma. Multiple blood cultures (from CVC and peripheric veins) were positive for a multi-drug-resistant Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S only to chloramphenicol, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and levofloxacin). The patient was successfully treated, without removal CVC, with systemic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole + levofloxacin combined to antibiotic lock (ciprofloxacin 8 mg in 4 mL for 12 h a day for 7 days). Conclusion: The cases reported by the Aa confirm that many catheter infections can be maintained in place and sterilised with lock-in therapy avoiding to replace expensive intravascular lines with unnecessary and risky insertions. One of the questions to resolve will be whether or not concomitant systemic antibiotic therapy is necessary. Background: Nosocomial infections influence upon the mortality, quality of patients' life, costs and length of hospitalisation. The source of those infections might be staff members, contaminated water system, air-conditioning or pests. Disinfectants are helpful in reducing or eradicating harmful pathogens existing in hospital environment. Some bacteria are able to grow on a surface as a biofilm. This form is more resistant to external harmful conditions such as antibiotics, disinfectants or host defence. Bacterial adhesion was recognised as the important virulence factor for colonisation of patient or biofilm formation. In our study the susceptibility of 65 bacterial strains isolated in hospital environment (colonising or infecting patients or carried by German cockroaches) to antibiotics and chemical disinfectants was determined. Moreover the efficacy of the disinfectant working solution (active ingredients: sodium dichloroisocyanorate 1795.2 mg/L; glucoprotamine 5200 mg/L; potassium persulphate 4300 mg/L) on selected bacterial strains adherent to catheter (after growing for 5 days on it) by treating then for 15 min was determined.

Results: Susceptibility profile to antibiotics varied; among Grampositive bacteria the MLSb, MRCNS strains were found; among Gram-negative bacteria the ESBL, AmpC phenotype were described. Determined MIC values or disinfectants were in range: sodium dichloroisocyanorate 7.8125-2000 mg/L; glucoprotamine 1.453-500 mg/L; potassium persulphate 7.8125-1000 mg/L. The results indicate that the working solution of the disinfectant might be ineffective to some strains of well-known pathogens: Serratia marcescens, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter cloacae and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The examination of disinfectants efficacy on selected strains showed that some bacterial strains were more resistant when they were grown on catheter for 5 days. The MIC value was lower than working solution of that chemical even more than 300 times. Moreover it was found that all tested disinfectants were ineffective to some strains adherent to catheter ex. S. marcescens and E. cloacae strains isolated from the body surface of German cockroaches.

Conclusions: The possibility of biofilm formation could explain the increase of resistance to disinfectants of some strains. German cockroaches carrying them in hospital should be considered not only as nuisance insects, but also as a real source of resistant to antibiotics and disinfectants bacteria. Background: Indwelling catheters are commonly colonised by skin flora. Propionibacterium spp. are among the commonest bacteria of normal human skin but currently recommended catheter-culture procedures would not detect its presence. Furthermore, Propionibacterium is nearly always regarded as a blood culture contaminant and automated blood culture methods may not detect a proportion of them. Our objective was to determine the rate of catheter colonisation by Propionibacterium spp. in unselected intravascular catheters submitted for culture. Methods: 368 intravascular catheters were processed by the rollplate technique and incubated in air at 37 C for at least 2 days. Organisms that were present in significant counts were subcultured for identification and susceptibility testing. When the conventional aerobic processing was finished, all primary culture plates were reincubated in an anaerobic jar. After 7 days of anaerobic incubation the plates were read looking for bacterial colonies that were not initially present. Control plates were inoculated with a suspension of P. acnes to assess the influence of aerobic preincubation on the final number of colony forming units (CFU). Conventional processing detected significant growth of bacteria in 24.8% of all catheters and no significant number of colonies (<15) in an additional 17.6% samples. Anaerobic reincubation yielded P. acnes in significant counts in 3.5% of all catheters (15% of all positive catheters) and no significant number of colonies in an additional 14.1% of samples. Three samples yielded significant growth of both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Of all the organisms recovered in significant counts, Coagulase-Negative staphylococci represented 55.5%, P. acnes 11.1%, S. aureus 7.7% and Corynebacterium spp. 6%, Enterococcus spp. 5.1% and other bacteria and yeast 14.5%. Anaerobic bacteria other than P. acnes were rarely recovered in non-significant counts. Aerobic preincubation for 5 days did not substantially affect the final number of CFU. Conclusion: P. acnes is the second most frequent coloniser of intravascular catheters. Anaerobic reincubation of plates used in standard routine is a simple method that could be useful for catheterrelated research projects. The potential of P. acnes as a cause of catheter-related bacteraemia merits further studies. Results: Nineteen patients included 10 males and nine females, whose ages ranged from 15 to 67 years (mean 41 years). All of the patients were hospitalised in the neurosurgical department. The most common underlying conditions were intracranial haemorrhage (8/19 cases), followed by hydrocephalus (4/19 cases) and cranial injury secondary to trauma (3/19). All patients underwent surgical procedures prior to infection, which included 15 craniotomies and four ventriculostomies. All patients were receiving antibiotic therapy at the onset of infection. Mean time between surgical procedure and diagnosis of meningitis was 15 days (6-27 days) . Fever and neck stiffness was found in eight and seven patients, respectively. In 12 patients serum leukocyte count was higher than 10 Â 1000/cu mm. Mean leukocyte count in serum and cerebrospinal fluid was 16 Â 1000/cu mm (min 10 Â 1000/cu mm, max; 35 Â 1000/cu mm) and 19 Â 1000/ cu mm (min 10/cu mm, max; 5620/cu mm) respectively. Mean CSF protein concentration was 210 mg/dL and mean CSF glucose concentration was 44 mg/dL. Only in 14 of 19 cases the microorganism was isolated from cerebrospinal fluid. Acinetobacter spp.

(11 cases), K. pneumoniae (two cases) and E. cloacae were the isolated microorganisms. Most of the Acinetobacter isolates were susceptible to carbapenems but all of them were resistant to thirdgeneration cephalosporins. A combination of carbapenem plus an aminoglycoside and/or vancomycin therapy was applied most of the patients. An additional intrathecal aminoglycoside dosage was needed for seven patients who responded poorly. The overall mortality rate in these patients was 43%. Conclusion: There has been an increase of post neurosurgery meningitis cases. In addition, the emergence of strains resistant to third-generation cephalosporins in this group has also been noted in recent years, and has become a great therapeutic challenge. Early diagnosis and initiation of appropriate antibiotic therapy is needed in this potentially fatal disease. Objectives: Pulmonary resection is associated with considerable risk of infection, so antimicrobial prophylaxis has become routine practice in thoracic surgery. The aim of this study was to assess changes in microflora of upper respiratory tract in hospitalised patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) before and after preoperative antimicrobial prophylaxis. Methods: 51 patients with NSCLC aged 37-73 years were subdivided into two groups: (A) control group (21 patients without antimicrobial prophylaxis and surgery), (B) 'prophylaxis' group (30 patients undergoing pulmonary operation with preoperative antimicrobial prophylaxis, including piperacillin, cefuroxime or ceftriaxone alone or in combination with amikacin). Throat and nasal specimens were taken up two times: examination I -on the day of hospital admission and examination II -on the third or fourth day of hospitalisation in group A and on the third or fourth day after the surgery in group B. The routine microbiological methods were used for isolation and identification of bacteria and fungi. Statistical analyses were performed by nonparametric tests. Results: The colonisation of nasal mucous membranes by pathogenic microflora did not differ significantly during hospitalisation between group A and B. Similar situation was observed in the case of pathogenic microflora on throat mucous membranes in group A. Different results were obtained in group B. The increased prevalence of pathogenic microflora on throat mucous membranes was observed -from 46.67% in examination I to 80% in examination II. This difference was statistically significant (P ¼ 0.007). In group B colonisation of throat mucous membranes by Enterobacteriaceae family and Candida spp. was increased significantly during hospitalisation (from 10 to 26.67% and from 36.67 to 70%, respectively). Conclusion: Our results indicate that antimicrobial prophylaxis can be regarded as an important predisposing factor for changes of upper respiratory tract microflora and for colonisation of mucous membrane of throat with enteric Gram-negative rods and yeast-like fungi -Candida spp. These microorganisms are potential causative agents of endogenous infections in immunocompromised patients with lung cancer. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine aerobic and anaerobic bacteria colonising pleural drains in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing thoracic surgery and to define antimicrobial agents susceptibility of isolated strains. Routine antimicrobial prophylaxis included piperacillin or cefuroxime. In some cases beta-lactam was used in combination with amikacin. Methods: Material for research was fluid from pleural drains collected from 34 patients aged 38-72 years two times -on the day of pulmonary resection and on the fourth day after operation. Samples were routinely cultured under aerobic and anaerobic conditions and determined using Api system (bioMerieux). Antimicrobial resistance was estimated by the disc diffusion method according NCCLS recommendations. Results: Aerobic (49 strains) and anaerobic (23 strains) bacteria were found in 30 (44%) and 15 (22%) samples, respectively. Among aerobic bacteria, Gram-negative rods (22 strains; 18 -belonging to non-fermenting rods) and coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS; 14 strains) were most often cultured. Fifteen strains of non-fermenting rods and 11 isolates of CNS were classified as multidrug resistant (MDR) organisms. Two isolates of S. marcescens were producers of extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) and inducible beta-lactamases (IBLs). All staphylococci were susceptible to vancomycin and teicoplanin. CNS strains resistant to penicillin and oxacillin but sensitive to amoxicillin/clavulanate were most frequently isolated. Only two methicillin-resistant strains, belonging to S. haemolyticus were found. The most common anaerobic bacteria were from the genera Eubacterium (nine strains) and Actinomyces (six strains). All of them were highly susceptible to antimicrobial agents except metronidazol (69.6% resistant strains) and chloramphenicol (52.2% resistant isolates). Conclusion: Colonisation of pleural drains does not mean infection, however knowledge about bacterial species found in drain fluid in a local population and antimicrobial resistance (especially MDR strains) has a major impact on the success of prophylaxis and therapy of potential postoperative infections.

A. Artero, J.J. Camarena, R. Zaragoza, S. Sancho, J. Tamarit, R. González, J. Nogueira Valencia, E Objectives: To know the clinical and microbiological characteristics of diabetic patients with severe bacteraemia. To identify the differential features of severe bacteraemia between patients with and without diabetes mellitus (DM). Materials and methods: During a 7-year period (1996) (1997) (1998) (1999) (2000) (2001) (2002) (2003) we have evaluated all bacteraemias with severe sepsis or septic shock in an intensive care unit of a teaching hospital. Clinical and microbiological features were recorded from clinical charts. The SPSS package (9.0) was used to identify significant differences between DM and no-DM cases, and to determine if the presence of DM was associated with mortality by a multivariate analysis. Results: The prevalence of DM in patients with severe bacteremic infections was 23.8% (n ¼ 60). In the group of DM the mean age of patients was 69.2 AE 7.9 years, the relation between men/women was 1.06, the origin of the bacteraemias was nosocomial in 88.3%, severe sepsis was present in 61.6% and septic shock in 31.6%. The focus of infection in diabetic patients was: unknown (n ¼ 29), catheter (n ¼ 11), respiratory (n ¼ 9), urinary (n ¼ 5), abdominal (n ¼ 3), vascular (n ¼ 2) and cutaneous (n ¼ 1). The main microorganisms causing of bacteraemias in patients with DM were: CNS (21.6%), Acinetobacter baumannii (15%), Staphylococcus aureus (11.6%), Escherichia coli (8.3%) and

Enterococcus spp. (8.3%). A higher proportion of nosocomial cases in DM was the only differential feature between patients with and without DM (P ¼ 0.041). The global mortality in patients with and without DM were 43.3 and 56.7% (P ¼ 0.068), respectively, and the related mortality were 21.6 and 27.6% (P ¼ 0.361), respectively. DM was related neither to global (OR ¼ 0.523, 95% IC 0.269-1.015) nor related mortality (OR ¼ 0.730, 95% IC 0.337-1.583) by multivariate analysis. Conclusion: DM is prevalent between critically ill patients with severe bacteraemic sepsis and bacteraemic septic shock. Diabetic patients had a higher proportion of nosocomial origin of bacteraemia. We did not find that DM was related to mortality in severe bacteraemic infections.

A. Poulou, F. Markou, X. Efthimiou, F. Mountaki

Objectives: Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease whose prevalence in Northern Greece is high and constitutes a significant problem for the local health authorities. The aim of this study is to report a rare case of transmission of Brucella melitensis. Patients: A female infant showed signs of respiratory distress during delivery. The obstetrician in charge tried to clear the respiratory tract of saliva and amniotic fluid. In his attempt he swallowed some secretions. A blood culture from the infant was incubated in the Bactec 9120. After 3 days B. melitansis was isolated. The case was proved to be a rare case of congenital brucellosis. The family of the infant was checked and the mother was found to be positive at 1/80 titre by Brucella agglutination test though her blood culture was negative. Neither her husband nor her other two children were positive on the Wright agglutination test. Both parents were involved in animal husbandry. Two months after the delivery of the infected infant the obstetrician reported pains in the back of his neck and low fever. A blood test revealed leucopenia and neutropenia (white cell count 2800/mm 3 ). The Wright agglutination test was positive at titre 1/80. A blood culture was taken and B. melitensis was isolated. Transaminases were normal. The obstetrician reported that he had not consumed unpasteurised milk or dairy products. He was treated with vibramycin and rifadin for 40 days. Two months later the Wright agglutination test was found negative and the white cell count was normal. Conclusions: B. melitansis is usually transmitted through consumption of unpasteurised diary products. In these cases we had transplacental transmission and transmission through infectious secretions via the gastro-intestinal tract. Therefore it is essential that detailed medical case histories should be taken from pregnant women in order to avoid congenital infections and that medical personnel should be aware of the possibility of such transmission. Objectives: Coryneforme bacteria have gradually acquired greater importance in infectious pathologies, especially as opportunistic nosocomial pathogens, some of them displaying resistance to various antibiotics. The aim of this report is to describe some of these bacteria with significant implication in different clinical pictures. Methods: Over a 3-year period we characterised the coryneforme isolates with presumable clinical significance. Clinical significance of the isolates was evaluated according to clinical information received (fever, intravascular devices, underlying disease, prolonged antibiotic therapy, etc.) as well as microbiological criteria (more than one isolation from habitually sterile anatomical areas and/or repeated isolations as predominant flora in sites contaminated with comensal flora).

Results: In 35 patients the isolations were clinically significant. The most frequent isolations (18) were found in blood culture: seven Corynebacterium amycolatum, five Corynebacterium jeikeium, two Corynebacterium minutissimum, two Dermabacter hominis, one Corynebacterium group G, one Brevibacterium sp. In another eight cases bacteraemia was accompanied by isolation of the same species in intravenous catheters (two C. amycolatum, one C. striatum, one C. jeikeium, one C. group G), a pace-maker cable (C. minutissimum) or soft tissue wound (one C. urealyticum, one Brevibacterium sp.). In addition, four C. striatum were isolated (three in respiratory secretions and one in a lower limb abcess), two C. amycolatum in mammary abscesses, one C. jeikeium in articular fluid and two C. urealyticum in urine. All the isolates were sensitive to vancomycin (MICs <0.5 mg/L), while sensitivity to beta-lactamics, macrolides and fluorquinolones was variable. Conclusions:

(1) C. amycolatum and C. jeikeium were the most frequently found corynebacteria with presumable clinical significance. Dermabacter and Brevibacterium were the genera identified among the non-corynebacterias. (2) Outbreaks of nosocomial SSSS and impetigo bullosa in infants have been well-described to be associated with the well baby nursery. The source of infection has been traced to health care workers in the delivery room or the newborn nursery. The initial site of S.a. colonisation/infection may be the anterior nares, nasopharynx, conjuctiva, umbilicus and/or the blood rather than the skin. Often the personnel are asymptomatic carriers of the epidemic strain of S.a. Objectives: The aim was determine the genetic relatedness of S.a. isolated from patients and staff and investigation of the potential source of the infection. Material and methods: In November 2001 27 strains of S.a. were isolated from various materials from newborns hospitalised at neonatological and obstetrician departments as well as from the staff. Biochemical test Api Staph was used for the species identification. To molecular typing of isolates was used pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Interpretation criteria for the gels followed manufacturer's guidelines: isolates with identical restriction profiles were assigned the same type, isolates that differed by one genetic event (one to three bands) were considered closely related, isolates with a four-to five-band difference were considered possibly related, and isolates that differed by more than six bands were different strains.

Results: Comparative analysis of the banding pattern for the isolates can be divided into several categories: Genetic: type Asix strains from newborns with impetigo bullosa and one from staff (baby nursery); type B -two strains from the staff; type C -seven strains from the staff; type D -two strains from the staff; nine other types -each one from one person from the staff.

Conclusions: All the cases of impetigo bullosa were caused by one genetic type of S. aureus which allows to characterise the infection as a hospital infection. Strains isolated from the staff (except one person) belonged to different genetic types (unrelated strains). Isolation of the same genetic type from infected newborns and a person from the stuff may suggest that this person was the source of the infection, but we can not exclude that she was accidentally colonised during the hospital outbreaks. To define whether bacterial translocation is a process involved in the series of events following multiple trauma. Methods: Crushing fracture of the middle of the right femor was performed in 12 New Zealand rabbits. Blood sampling was performed before and 4 h after fracture for the determination of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and of nitric oxide (NO). TNF-alpha was estimated by a bioassay on L929 fibrosarcoma cell line and NO by a colorimetric assay. Survival was recorded and after death segments of liver, spleen and lower lobe of the right lung were cut for quantitative culture. < 11.5. Conclusion: In this in vivo model of PP (1) GAT was strongly effective on the fully susceptible strain and its efflux derivative, despite the emergence of RM for this later one. (2) GAT was ineffective, as expected on resistant gyrA strain, but more surprisingly on parC mutated strains, mainly due to the presence of RM. (3) these mutants were selected in vivo in a MSW more precisely defined by PKPD parameters using MPC. (4) Low levels of resistance to FQ should be detected by simple tests to guide the therapeutic options. Objective: Boost of systemic neutrophil count by G-CSF prior to infection leads to diminished growth of pneumococci in experimental meninigitis and improves survival. Whether this protective effect also includes attenuation of hearing loss is reported here. Materials and methods: Rats -infected intracisternally with $1 Â 105 S. pneumoniae serotype 3 -were randomly allocated to receive G-CSF (10 lg/kg s.c. TD) 48 h prior to infection (n ¼ 16), late treatment (28 h postinfection, n ¼ 16) or no G-CSF (n ¼ 22). All animals also received ceftriaxone started 28 h postinfection. Infection was documented by blood and CSF tap 24 h post infection. Just before, 24 h and 7 days after infection, assessments of hearing was made by measurements of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) at f 2 ¼ 4-70 kHz and by assessment of hearing thresholds by auditory brain stem responses (ABR) at 52 kHz in levels from 20 to 100 dB SPL. Results: 24-h postinfection hearing loss was significantly increased in G-CSF treated animals compared with untreated (hearing loss in 37.5 vs. 14.3% of animals from f 2 ¼ 10-50 000 Hz and 75 vs. 42.9% f 2 > 50 000 Hz, respectively, Mann-Whitney, P ¼ 0.026). On day 8 postinfection among surviving animals, severity of hearing loss in G-CSF pretreated animals was furthermore increased compared with the control group (severe hearing loss in 92.3 vs. 50% from f 2 ¼ 10-65 000 Hz, respectively, Mann-Whitney, P ¼ 0.013). Late G-CSF treatment did not affect hearing loss significantly compared with the control group. Objective: Bacterial meningitis is characterised by an intense inflammatory host response that contributes to the high mortality and morbidity of the disease. Doxycycline is a clinically used antibiotic which has anti-inflammatory effects that are separate and distinct from its antimicrobial action, including the reduction of cytokine release and the inhibition of matrix metalloproteases. The present study assessed the effect of doxycycline, when given as adjuvant therapy in experimental pneumococcal meningitis. Methods: Eleven-day-old rats were infected intracisternally with 10 lL of saline containing 2.5-1.5 Â 10 6 CFU/mL Streptococcus pneumoniae. At 18 h after infection all animals received ceftriaxone (100 mg/kg i.p., q12 h) and were randomised for administration of a single dose of doxycycline (30 mg/kg s.c.; n ¼ 67) or an equal volume of saline (500 lL; n ¼ 65). At 40 h after infection, surviving animals were sacrificed. Albumin concentration in the brain was assessed as an index for blood-brain barrier (BBB) leakage. Brain damage was quantified by histomorphometry. Results: A single dose of doxycycline (30 mg/kg) vs. saline improved survival (survival rate: 80 vs. 52%, P < 0.001), protected the BBB (cortical albumin/total protein: 7.9 vs. 12.7 lg/mg, P < 0.04) and reduced injury in the cerebral cortex (damage in percent of cortex; median [range] 0 [0-2.8] vs. 0 [0-26.9], P < 0.05). Conclusion: Adjuvant treatment with doxycycline may be a promising approach to prevent death or neuronal injury as a consequence bacterial meningitis. establishing conditions resulting in null survival by antibodies protection or antibiotic treatment. Methods: A fully amoxicillin-resistant (MIC of 8 mg/L) serotype 6B Streptococcus pneumoniae was used as infecting strain. Amoxicillin was administered at a dose (3.12 mg/kg) producing serum concentration lower than the MIC of the infecting strain all over the treatment period (C max : 6.1 mg/L). Passive immunisation was performed with hyperimmune serum (HS; obtained from mice weekly inoculated with whole cell heat-inactivated inoculum for 5 weeks) diluted in PBS up to dilution 1/6 that had shown null protection (0% survival) in preliminary experiments. Groups of 10 BALB/c mice weighing 19-22 g were passively immunised with one-single intraperitoneal (ip) injection of the 1/6 dilution of HS, 1 h prior to infection with the 6B pneumococcus. Amoxicillin treatment was started 1 h after inoculation and continued t.i.d for 48 h. Groups of animals receiving placebo (PBS), non-immune serum, non-diluted HS, 1/6 dilution of HS or amoxicillin 3.12 mg/kg alone were included as control groups. Mortality was recorded over the 7-day follow-up period. Results: Survival rates in all control groups were lower than 10% except in the non-diluted HS that was 100%. Antibiotic treatment in passively immunised animals produced survival rates of 100%, with significant differences vs. controls (except the non-diluted HS). Conclusion: Since amoxicillin concentrations were below the MIC (8 mg/L) of the infecting organisms all over the treatment period (C max of 6.1 mg/L), the presence of specific antibodies produced in vivo efficacy of sub-inhibitory concentrations. The in vivo combined effect antibodies/amoxicillin is synergistic and not only additive considering the survival rates obtained by the antibodies (0% survival) and amoxicillin sub-inhibitory concentrations (10% survival) alone and those obtained when acting together (100% survival). (15 mg/kg) and CRO (100 mg/kg) were injected at hour 0 and V (20 mg/kg) were injected at hours 0 and 4. CRO and V were standard doses. D corresponded to high doses in humans. CSF samples were repeatedly collected during therapy in order to determine antibiotic levels and killing rates. D serum levels peaked at 200 mg/L decreasing slowly to 36 mg/L 8 h later. D CSF levels ranges between 5 and 3 mg/L. D penetration into inflamed meninges was 5%. Results of bactericidal activity of the different regimens are expressed in Delta log 10 CFU/mL h and Delta log 10 CFU/mL over 8 h. Results are presented in Table 1 . Conclusions: (1) D is highly efficacious against PenR and PenR+ QurR pneumococci in experimental meningitis, sterilising the CSF of rabbits within 4 h (9 out of 10 in both D treatment groups). (2) D as monotherapy is significantly superior to the standard regimen based on a combination of CRO with V against both strains. (3) The efficacy of D was also confirmed in time-killing assays over 8 h. Objectives: Skin-temperature is an effective measure of the severity of pneumococcal pneumonia in mice and can be used to predict lung bacterial counts and imminent death. Skin-temperatures vary considerably in groups of infected mice and thus, drug intervention at a particular skin-temperature more closely resembles that which is used in humans. In this study, we compared the efficacy of moxifloxacin (MFX) with levofloxacin (LVX) in the treatment of pneumococcal pneumonia using our novel skin-temperature model. Methods: Swiss Webster mice were inoculated endotracheally with 5-log 10 CFU of the Streptococcus pneumoniae A66 strain (MICs: MFX, 0.12 lg/mL; LVX, 0.5 lg/mL). Skin temperature at 35 h was used to assess disease severity prior to drug treatment. A skin temperature of !32 C is indicative of a moderate infection with a pulmonary bacterial count of 6-log 10 CFU whereas temperatures <32 C but >30 C are suggestive of a severe infection with a count of 7-log 10 CFU. All mice with a temperature of 30 C were excluded from the study, as death is imminent within 24 h. A 50 mg/kg subcutaneous dose of MFX or LVX was given twice daily for 5 days. Skin temperature was measured daily to monitor clinical improvement or failure ( 30 C for at least 48 h). All mice deemed to have failed therapy were euthanised immediately. Viable counts in the lungs were determined for all mice. Results: Of the mice classed as moderate, 24/29 (83%) mice treated with MFX and 10/20 (50%) mice treated with LVX survived. Complete eradication was obtained in 93 and 20% of mice treated with MFX and LVX, respectively, in this group. Of the mice classed as severe, 24/31 (77%) and 5/20 (20%) mice treated with MFX and LVX, respectively, survived. Complete eradication was obtained in 84 and 15% of mice treated with MFX and LVX in this group. Conclusions: MFX showed significantly enhanced activity over LVX at both an early and late stage pneumococcal lung infection. . A partial knee replacement was performed with a silicone implant fitting into the intramedullary canal of the tibia, and 107 CFU of MRSA, were injected into the knees. Rx was started 7 days after inoculation and continued for 7 days intramuscularly. Results: MICs (mg/L) of LZD, Van and RIF were 1.5, 1.5 and 0.008, respectively. In vivo, LZD reduced significantly the mean log 10 CFU/g of bone (2.58 AE 0.85, n ¼ 9) vs. controls and VAN (6.22 AE 0.43, n ¼ 7; 4.87 AE 0.61, n ¼ 8), respectively (P < 0.01). Both Rx were not sufficient to sterilise animals (1/9 and 0/6 respectively). The combination of RIF with LZD (1.6 AE 0.01, CFU/ g of bone, 6/6 sterile animals) or with VAN (1.6 AE 0.08 CFU/g of bone, 6/6 sterile animals), was significantly more effective than monotherapy (P < 0.01). Emergence of resistance to Rif was not detected in vivo. Conclusion: In this MRSA joint prosthesis infection, LZD combined with Rif was highly effective in vivo and prevented the selection of mutant resistant of rifampin. LZD should be of interest for treating MRSA joint prothesis infection.

Staphylococcus aureus nasal decolonisation model To study the role of the multidrug efflux system AcrAB-TolC in resistance of Salmonella typhimurium DT104 to detergents and bile salts. To evaluate the importance of the components AcrB and TolC of this efflux system in the colonisation of a multidrug-resistant S. typhimurium DT104 strain in chicks. Methods: acrB and tolC mutants of a multidrug-resistant S. typhimurium DT104 strain were constructed by deletion or insertional inactivation of the genes. MICs of detergents and bile salts were determined for the acrB and the tolC mutants, comparatively to the wild type mutidrug-resistant strain. The effect of sodium choleate on the in vitro growth of these three strains was evaluated. The LD50s of the strains were measured in a one day old chicken model, inoculated with several doses (3-9 log CFU) by the oral route, during 7 days post-inoculation. The colonisation levels were assessed at the subletal dose 7 days post-inoculation by determining the number of CFU of Salmonella in the faeces, caeca, spleen, and liver. Results: The decrease of resistance to detergents and bile salts was much more important for the tolC mutant than for the acrB mutant. For example, MICs of SDS decreased of 1024 and 128 times, MICs of sodium deoxycholate decreased of 64 and 8 times, for the tolC and acrB mutants, respectively. Addition of choleate in culture medium had no effect on the growth of the wild type strains and of the acrB mutant but inhibited the growth of the tolC mutant. The LD50s in the 1-day old chicken model, were 6 log CFU and 7 log CFU for the wild type strain and the acrB mutant, respectively, and not calculable for the tolC mutant because of a too small number of dead chicks. Furthermore, in contrast to the acrB mutant, the tolC mutant was unable to colonise the caeca, spleen, and liver after 1 week of infection. Moreover, in most chicks no intestinal excretion was detected for the tolC mutant. The colonisation levels of the acrB mutant were the same as those of the parental strain. Conclusion: TolC but not AcrB appears to be essential in multidrug-resistant S. typhimurium DT104 colonisation of chicks, which is in accordance with their respective roles in resistance to detergents and bile salts. Therefore, TolC could be a better target than AcrB for the development of efflux system inhibitors. (Kp17) and its derivative producing the plasmid-mediated AmpC-type b-lactamase CMY-2 (Kp27). In vitro studies: MIC/MBC: microdilution method (NCCLS), inoculum: 105, 106 and 107 CFU/mL. The in vitro postantibiotic effect (PAE) was investigated by exposing the bacteria to IMP and CEP at concentration equal to two and six times the MICs for 1.5 h. The PAE was quantitated calculating the difference between the times required for the numbers of drug-exposed and untreated organism to increase 10-fold above the numbers present immediately after removal of the antibiotic. PK/PD parameters (C max and time above the MIC) were determined after a single dose of antimicrobials. In vivo studies: Experimental pneumonia in C57BL/6 mice, with intratracheal inoculum of 108 CFU/mL. The animals were grouped in: CON (no treatment), CFP (360 mg/kg/day) and IMP (240 mg/kg/day), during 72 h. Variables: mortality rates and bacterial clearance from lungs. Statistical analysis: Chi-squared and Fisher tests, ANOVA, and posthoc tests. Results IMP (16.9, 1.32, 0.23) . In vivo: For Kp17, CFP and IMP decreased the mortality respect to CON (0 vs. 73%, P < 0.003) and (33.3 vs. 60%, P < 0.05); for Kp27, IMP was the only therapy that decreased the mortality compared with CON and CFP (13 vs. 60% and 60%, P < 0.01). Bacterial clearance from lungs: For Kp17, CFP and IMP cleared the lungs respect to CON (1.74 and 3.38 vs. 9.16 log CFU/mL, P < 0.01), CFP being better than IMP (P < 0.001); for Kp27, CFP and IMP cleared the lung respect to CON (4.33 and 4.06 vs. 9.07 log CFU/ mL, P < 0.000). Conclusions: The presence of plasmid-mediated AmpC-type b-lactamase CMY-2 in K. pneumoniae diminished the in vivo efficacy of cefepime and not that of imipenem. The inoculum effect for cefepime and the PAE of imipenem partially explain these results. M. abscessus is a rapidly growing mycobacterium (RGM) that is emerging as a significant pathogen in humans, both as a respiratory pathogen in patients with or without recognised comorbidities, and as the agent of inoculation infections. The histopathologic features of the human infection suggest that M. abscessus causes a tuberculosis-like infection. We investigated the systemic challenge of C57BL/6 mice with the type strain of M. abscessus through intravenous and intraperitoneal routes. With both high (107 CFU) and low (105 CFU) doses, the initial bacterial load remained stable for 5 days in liver and spleen until the establishment of a granulomatous response. The differentiation of the granuloma (central F4/80+ epithelioid cells with a peripheral CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytic crown) was contemporary to a drastic decrease of the bacterial load in the organs studied. However, 90 days following the challenge some mice still harboured bacteria capable of in vitro growth in their livers and spleens despite an overall effective control of the infection, and all mice infected presented granulomas of various differentiation stages in their livers. This response is highly reminiscent of the IFNc dependent response to M. tuberculosis. Mice deleted for the gene encoding IFNc were challenged intraperitoneally with M. abscessus and significantly failed to reduce the bacterial load by day 14. We show for the first time that the rapidly growing M. abscessus can cause a long lasting, tuberculosis-like, IFNc dependent infection in C57BL/6 mice. These results show promise for the elucidation of M. abscessus disease since data from M. tuberculosis might be relevant. Reciprocally, M. abscessus faithfully models key features of mycobacterial infection. Campylobacter jejuni infection is the most common antecedent in the axonal variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Antibodies against nerve gangliosides found in GBS patients recognise cross reactive epitopes in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of C. jejuni. This led to the molecular mimicry hypothesis of GBS. To investigate the connection among C. jejuni, antibodies anti gangliosides and GBS we designed an animal model employing a LPS isolated from a GBS patient. Methods: We immunised eleven rabbits with a LPS extracted from Penner serotype 0:19 C. jejuni strain isolated from patient with GBS and Freund's adjuvant (CFA) (group I). In a second experiment we immunised seven rabbits with LPS, CFA and keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) (group II). Results: All rabbits of groups I and II developed a strong humoral response to LPS. Elevated IgM and IgG antibodies to LPS could be detected as early as 2 weeks after the first immunisation. IgG raised during the immunisation period up to 25 600 in group I and 6400 in group II. Anti-GM1 IgM antibodies were detectable at low titres 2 weeks after the first immunisation in both groups and raised up to 3200 in group I and to 6400 in group II. IgG anti-GM1 could already be detected at low titres in both groups 2 weeks after the first immunisation and increased up to 51 200 in group I and up to 25 600 in group II. Titre of anti-GM1 IgG showed a steep rise during the 6 weeks following the first immunisation. In Western immunoblotting of C. jejuni LPS, the serum of immunised rabbits reacted strongly with a band that co-migrated at 10 kD at the same level of CT, PNA and serum of the patient with anti-GM1 antibodies. The kinetics of IgM and IgG anti-GD1b was similar to that of antibody anti-GM1 but the maximal titres were lower as IgG raised up to 3200 in group I and 12 800 in group II. IgM anti-GD1a were at low titre in both groups throughout the experiment whereas IgG anti-GD1a raised up to 3200 in group I and to 800 in group II. IgM and IgG anti-GQ1b were not detectable in group I and II sera. Conclusion: C. jejuni LPS is a potent B-cell stimulator capable to induce a strong antiganglioside response in rabbits. However to induce the neuropathy is crucial to employ KLH a glycoprotein known to stimulate both humoral and cellular responses. This is the first animal model reproducing the pathogenetic process hypothesised in axonal GBS with antiganglioside antibodies post-C. jejuni infection. Methods: Three separate experiments were conducted in order to screen the ability of five clinical C. concisus isolates and the ATCC 33237 type strain of oral origin to infect BALB/cA mice. All mice were pre-treated with vancomycin, and half of the animals received cyclophosphamide to disturb immune functions, prior to C. concisus challenge by direct intragastrical inoculation with 0.3 mL 10 9 CFU, controls received 0.3 mL of PBS. Measured parameters were bacterial isolation from stool and internal organs, loss of body weight and histological examinations of tissue samples. Mice were sacrificed on days 7, 21 and 56 of the studies. Isolation of C. concisus was performed by the selective filter method and PCR. Results: Isolation and identification: C. concisus was isolated on day 7 from the cyclophosphamide treated group infected with the clinical isolate 10776 (study 1). Liver (3/3), ileum (3/3) and jejunum (1/3) were culture positive. PCR results from tissue samples were only positive in one mouse from the same group (liver, ileum and jejunum). Faecal pellets were consistently negative. During the two following studies, no isolation of C. concisus was possible. Histological examination: Microabscesses (1/3) were found in the liver in two untreated groups. Oedema of villi in the ileum was occasionally noted in infected groups, but not in controls (study 2). Two mice in the untreated group infected with the ATCC 33237 type strain, presented leukocyte infiltration of colon. Loss of body weight: Compared with controls, the C. concisus infected mice had a significant weight loss (P < 0.05) (study 3). Loose stools: On days 2 and 3, C. concisus inoculated groups had loose and slimy stools compared with control groups (study 3). One mouse inoculated with the clinical isolate 10776 died on day 5 (study 3). Discussion: The present model mimics a relevant intragastrical exposure to C. concisus infection of imunocompetent BALB/cA mice upon cyclophosphamide treatment and results indicate a possible transient colonisation of liver and ileum, with clinical signs of illness as loss of bodyweight and loose stools. Histological examination was inconclusive. Isolation of C. concisus was not reproducible in two subsequent studies, which severely hampers the present model. Future studies should concentrate on the first days of infection, as the organism is rapidly cleared from the GI tract. . They were co-adminis-tered with antimicrobials in an experimental model of sepsis by an MDR isolate. Methods: Sepsis was induced in 30 rabbits after the iv infusion of an 8 log 10 inoculum of a P. aeruginosa isolate resistant to ceftazidime (CZ), imipenem, ciprofloxacin and amikacin (AM) by a catheter inserted into the right jugular vein. Animals were assigned into five groups of treatment of six animals each: A controls; B iv CZ and AM; C iv CZ, AM and alcohol 99%; D iv CZ, AM and an alcoholic solution of GLA; and E iv CZ, AM and an alcoholic solution of AA. Therapy was administered 30 min after bacterial challenge. CZ was given at a 50 mg/kg dose, AM at 15 mg/kg and both n À 6 PUFAs at 25 mg/kg. n À 6 PUFAs were infused within 10 min. All agents were administered by a catheter inserted into the left jugular vein. Survival was recorded; after death segments of various organs were cut for quantitative cultures. Results This synergy is tested in an experimental model. Methods: Thirty-five Wistar rats became neutropenic by the intraperitoneal injection of 100 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide on day 1 and 150 mg/kg on day 3. On day 5 an 8 log 10 inoculum of one MDR isolate was intramuscularly injected into the right femor of animals. Rats were assigned into four groups of treatment: A (n ¼ 6) controls; B (n ¼ 8) RF treated; C (n ¼ 11) CL treated; and D (n ¼ 10) treated with both agents. Therapy was given four hours after bacterial challenge. CL was administered im 3 mg/kg into the left femor and RF iv from a catheter inserted into the right jugular vein at 5 mg/kg. Survival was recorded. Results: Mean AE SE survival of animals of groups A, B, C and D were 1.75 AE 0.17 days, 3.13 AE 0.52 days (P: 0.031 compared with A), 3.86 AE 0.50 (P: 0.004 compared with A) and 5.50 AE 0.11 (P: 0.011 compared with A) respectively. Conclusions: Co-administration of CL and RF is beneficiary accompanied by prolonged survival in an experimental model of sepsis by MDR A. baumannii. Infections by Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab) with high-degree resistance (HDR) to carbapenems have recently increased. Only colistin seems to keep its in vitro efficacy, but clinical practice is scarce. To our knowledge, no clinical data are currently available to evaluate the systematic use of the beta-lactam (BL)-aminoglycoside (AG) combination to treat serious Ab infections in a way similar to that in other infections by Gram-negative bacteria. Objective: To analyse the efficacy of the combination of two BL (imipenem [I] 

Methods: We used immunocompetent C57BL/6 mice and three strains of Ab with susceptibility, moderate-degree resistance and HDR to carbapenems (A, D and E respectively). MICs (mg/L) were (strains A, D, E): I: 1, 8, 512; S: 2, 4, 128; and T: 128, 8, 8 . The in vivo activity was examined by quantitative evaluation of the lung homogenate cultures after 48 h of induction of pneumonia. Results: In control (CON) animals (n ¼ 45), the bacterial counts in lungs at 48 h were (mean AE SD): 10.66 AE 0.37, 10.83 AE 0.32 and 10.77 AE 0.35 log 10 CFU/g of tissue for strains A, D and E, respectively (P ¼ NS between strains). Results of antibiotic activity were expressed as differences between treated (n ¼ 4 in each therapy) and CON groups (delta log 10 CFU/g) (see Table) .

Conclusions: In this mice pneumonia model, I or S kept his efficacy for Ab with moderate resistance to carbapenems. In infections caused by this strain D, T in combination conferred a possible greater efficacy on these BLs. In infections by Ab with HDR to carbapenems, T alone was also effective. Interestingly the combination BL + AG also showed a higher effect on the infection by this HDR strain E, against which monotherapy with I or S were totally ineffective. Although the pharmacodynamics of T in this model may have been overestimated, because of the peak levels achieved are not usually found in humans at the recommended doses (C max 32.87 AE 5.45 mg/L), these results are promising to treat multiresistant Ab infections. Objectives: To investigate the effect of orally administered cranberry juice and its organic acids on Escherichia coli in an experimental mouse model of ascending urinary tract infection. Methods: E. coli C175-94, a clinical isolate from a patient with UTI was used. It expresses type 1 fimbriae but not P or S fimbriae. The transurethrally infected mice were at all times were allowed free access to chow and water (control group) or treatments. The control group and the treated groups all consisted of six mice in every trial; after 1 week, the mice were sacrificed and urine, bladders and kidneys collected for determination of bacterial counts. Most of the treatments were repeated two or more times in independent trials and these data were pooled. Treatments were commercially available cranberry juice cocktail, freshly prepared cranberry juice, the hydrophilic fraction of cranberry juice (contains sugars and organic acids) and organic acids (quinic, malic, shikimic and citric acid in concentrations corresponding to cranberry juice). Results: A reduced number of organisms could be recovered from the bladder (P < 0.01) and urine (P < 0.05) of mice orally treated with unsweetened cranberry juice. Commercially available cran-berry juice cocktail also reduced the CFU in the bladder (P < 0.01), as did the hydrophilic fraction of cranberry juice (P < 0.05). Quinic, malic, shikimic and citric acid were administered in combination and one by one. The four organic acids decreased the CFU in the bladder when administered together (P < 0.001), and so did the combination of malic plus citric acid (P < 0.01) and malic plus quinic acid (P < 0.05). These data indicate that the beneficial effect of the organic acids from cranberry juice during urinary tract infection is obtained when the acids are administered together. Conclusion: For the fist time the effect of cranberry juice and its dominating organic acids has been tested in an experimental mouse model of long-term ascending urinary tract infection under controlled conditions. Cranberry juice inhibited E. coli colonisation of the bladder, and the organic acids were the active component involved. The active treatments reduced the bacterial load in the bladder to sub therapeutic concentrations, which indicates that cranberry juice is no final treatment but a remedy that could help the patient to clear the infection, before it eventually becomes a final cystitis. (Mellado et al., Mol Microbiol 1996; 20: 667-679) . We describe a kinetic microbroth method of measuring the growth rates of Aspergillus fumigatus spectrophotometrically. Using this method, growth rates (as defined by V max values) were determined for nine Aspergillus fumigatus isolates for which an LD90 value in temporarily neutropenic CD-1 mice, infected intravenously, had previously been obtained. Methods: An inoculum of 10 4 spores in 50 lL Sab medium gave us uniformly shaped growth curves and allowed the measurement of V max values with greater sensitivity. Soft max pro software was used to determine the V max value for each growth curve by performing linear regression on as many five data point line segments as possible, calculating the slope for each line segment and reporting the steepest slope as the V max (mOD/min). Growth rate was determined in quadruplicate in three separate experiments and the average V max measurement across these experiments calculated. Results: Mean growth rate varied from 1.558 (AF10) to 2.411 (AF71). LD90 varied from 3 Â 10 5 to 5 Â 10 6 . Comparison of the growth rates and LD90 values of these isolates suggests a correlation exists between the two parameters, omitting the one significant outlier (AF65, which is amphotericin B resistant), r 2 ¼ 0.6687. Conclusion: These data are important in describing a simple method for measuring the growth rate of the common filamentous fungus A. fumigatus, and proving a direct link between pathogenicity in vivo and growth rate in vitro. Objective: To compare the histological changes, viral persistence and localisation of the virus in the pancreas and the small intestines of mice, experimentally infected by oral or intraperitoneal route. Method: Mice were infected with CVB 3 (Nancy) by the oral or intraperitoneal route. Doses ranged from 5 Â 10 3 to 5 Â 10 9 TCID50. Selected organs from each mouse were embedded into paraffin and sections were attached on silanised slides. For histological observation the sections were stained by Mayer's haematoxylin eosin method. For localisation of the antigen by immunohistochemical staining, the VP1 protein served as an indicator for the presence of the virus. The method was standardised. The tissue sections were processed and stained by the avidinbiotin method, using the monoclonal mouse anti-enterovirus antibody against VP1 protein.

Results: The histological observations reveal that the tissue of exocrine pancreas showed inflammatory changes on the 3rd, 7th, 10th, 14th and 21st day post-infection in exocrine pancreas of the intraperitoneally infected mice. After oral infection no destruction of the exocrine pancreas was observed, but on day 35th post-peroral infection liposis was seen. VP1 was detected mainly on the third and seventh days after infection in the small intestine. We found differences in VP1 localisation between oral and intraperitoneal infection. In small intestine of orally infected mice positive staining was localised in smooth intestinal muscles whereas after intraperitoneal infection. VP1 was detected within the villi. There was no correlation between the virus concentration and tissue damage.

Conclusions: The pathogenesis of CVB3 infection is influenced by the route of virus administration, which has direct implications for the use of mouse models to study the pathogenesis of Coxsackieviruses. Objectives: The portal of entry of coxsackieviruses may influence the pathogenesis of infections caused by these viruses. In this study an outbred murine model (Swiss albino mice) was used for experimental infection with coxsackie B3 virus (CVB3), strain Nancy to follow-up the virus shedding in the stool and the presence of replicating virus in the small intestine of mice after oral and intraperitoneal route of infection. Methods: For infection of mice different concentrations of the virus (10 4 , 10 6 , 10 8 and 10 10 ) were used. The stool and small intestine specimens of dissected mice were collected on days 3, 7, 10 post-infection (p.i.) and from day 14 in weekly intervals up to a day 147 p.i. The suspensions made from the collected specimens were studied for presence of replicating virus in Hep-2 cell cultures. The virus titre was determined in Hep-2 monolayers on microtitre plates and calculated by Reed and Muench method. Results: The replicating virus in the stool pellets was detectable from day 3 p.i. to day 14 p.i. in both orally and intraperitoneally infected mice with a virus titre reaching the level 10 1:5 TCID50/ mL. In the small intestine of orally infected mice the presence of replicating virus was detected up to day 35 p.i. In the small intestine of intraperitoneally infected mice the replicating virus was present for a shorter time, up to day 21 p.i., irrespective of the dose of infection. Conclusion: There was no difference in the length of virus shedding in stool specimens of mice infected by oral or intraperitoneal route. However a longer presence of replicating virus in the small intestine of orally infected mice in contrast to intraperitoneally infected mice was observed. This was confirmed by the immunohistopathological studies, these observations support the suggestion that the pathogenesis of coxsackieviral infections is influenced by the route of virus administration. Object: In xenotransplantation with porcine neonatal pancreatic cell clusters (NPCCs), the risk of cross-species porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) infection remained as problem. We used the severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mouse and the Lewis rat model to identify the PERV transmission with the time course and the differences between the models. Methods: NPCCs were transplanted to SCID mice and Lewis rats and left for 1-70 days before being sacrificed. DNA and RNA were extracted from the liver, spleen, pancreas, lung, kidney and testis. To examine the PERV transmission, nested-PCR and RT-PCR were used upon pol/env/gag regions of PERV. The pig mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase II subunit gene (COII) was amplified simultaneously to monitor the microchimerism. Results: Total 264 samples from seven mice and five rats were tested. Ten weeks after xenotransplantation, two mice and four rats were identified to have permissive PERV infection. In the SCID mice, 92.9% of tested organs were positive for PERV-pol gene and 85.7% were positive for COII gene with DNA examination. In the Lewis rats, 86.7% of organs were positive for PERV-pol gene and 14.1% for COII gene with DNA examination. Examinations of organs of mice showed that 35 (83.3%) organs were positive for the PERV-pol gene and COII gene simultaneously that presumed as microchimerism, but 15 (50%) organs of rats were presumed as microchimerism. Results of PERV-pol positive and COII negative that presumed as permissive PERV infection were observed in 9.5% of organs in the SCID mice and 36.7% in the Lewis rats. Organs presumed as permissive PERV infection were the spleen (day 3), liver (day 70), lung (day 70), and testis (day 70) in the SCID mice by DNA examinations. In the Lewis rats, the spleen and testis of day 1; the liver, spleen, and kidney of day 5; the testis and kidney of day 7; the liver, spleen, lung, and testis of day 14 were identified to have permissive PERV infection. Conclusion: The cross-species PERV infection was identified from these animal models. Expression of PERV depends on the immunity of the recipients, because the xenotransplanted SCID mice had more PERV microchimerism but less permissive infection than that of the Lewis rats. Detection rate was increased with the time course, accordingly in the early period after transplantation, PERV considered to exist as an inactive form. the therapy of numerous antimicrobial classes including the recently introduced quinupristin/dalfopristin, telithromycin and the oxazolidinones. Clearly the need for antimicrobial discovery persists, and this should be a continued priority for the pharmaceutical industry. This report addresses the spectrum of activity for PDF7 tested against a collection of recent (2002) clinical isolates cultured from patients infected with pathogens within the spectrum for peptide deformylase inhibitors.

Methods: PDF7 was acquired from Novartis. The compound was dispensed into reference broth microdilution trays in appropriate media over the range of 0.06-8 mg/L. Mueller-Hinton broth was supplemented with 2-5% lysed horse blood when testing fastidious streptococci, and the Corynebacteria. NCCLS QC strains were used concurrently and all PDF7 MIC results were within proposed ranges. Results: 1837 Gram-positive strains were tested with a species rank order of S. aureus (875 strains) > CoNS (381) Objective: NVP-PDF713 is a new peptide deformylase inhibitor active against a wide variety of Gram-positive and -negative bacteria. The current study examines the activity of NVP-PDF713 compared with those of ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, gatifloxacin, moxifloxacin, vancomycin, teicoplanin, linezolid, ranbezolid, dap-tomycin, oritavancin and quinupristin/dalfopristin against 131 S. aureus (62 methicillin resistant) and 127 coagulase-negative staphylococci (60 methicillin resistant).

Microdilution using frozen trays containing cation-adjusted Mueller-Hinton broth and inocula of 1 Â 105 CFU/ mL with trays incubated in air. Results: MIC 50 and MIC 90 values (lg/mL) were as seen in the following table. NVP-PDF713 was equally active against all staphylococcal strains (MICs <0.06-4 lg/mL), irrespective of susceptibility to other agents. Quinolone resistance was mainly seen in methicillin R strains. Vancomycin, linezolid, ranbezolid, daptomycin, oritavancin and quinupristin/dalfopristin were all active at MICs <4.0 lg/mL and teicoplanin was less active against coagulase-negative strains. Conclusions: NVP-PDF713, a new peptide deformylase inhibitor, was active in vitro against staphylococci.

P916 Antipneumococcal activity of NVP-PDF713 compared with 18 other agents P. Appelbaum, L. Ednie, M. Jacobs Hershey, Cleveland, USA Background: Drug resistance in pneumococci is found worldwide. Objective: NVP-PDF713 is a new peptide deformylase inhibitor active against Gram-positive and -negative bacteria. This study tests activities of NVP-PDF713, amoxicillin AE clavulanate, imipenem, meropenem, ceftriaxone, cefuroxime, cefpodoxime, cefdinir, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, gatifloxacin, moxifloxacin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, linezolid, quinupristin/dalfopristin, vancomycin and teicoplanin against 80 pen S, 88 pen I, 132 pen R pneumococci (154 macrolide R and 30 quinolone R strains with defined R genotypes). Methods: Agar dilution using cation-adjusted Mueller-Hinton agar + 5% sheep blood and inocula of 1 Â 104 CFU/spot; plates incubated in air. Results: MIC50 and MIC90 values (lg/mL) are shown in Table 1 . NVP-PDF713 was equally active against all pneumococci, irrespective of activity of other drugs. Beta-Lactam MICs rose with those of pen G. Moxi was the most potent quinolone followed by gati, levo cipro. Vanco, teico, linez, quin/dalf were all active at MICs <4.0 lg/mL. Conclusions: NVP-PDF713 was active in vitro against Beta-lactam, macrolide and quinolone S and R pneumococci. Objective: NVP PDF-713 is a new peptide deformylase inhibitor active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. This study tested activity of NVP PDF-713, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, gatifloxacin, moxifloxacin, vancomycin, teicoplanin, linezolid, ranbezolid, daptomycin, tigecycline, oritavancin and quinupristin/ dalfopristin against six S. aureus (3 methi R) and six CONS (3 methi R). Methods: NCCLS macrodilution MIC was used. For time-kills, 5 Â 10 5 -5 Â 10 6 CFU/mL inocula in cation-adjusted Mueller-Hinton broth were incubated aerobically in a shaking water bath at 1Â, 2Â, 4Â MIC. Viabilities were done after 3, 6, 12, 24 h. Ca 2þ was added for dapto. Results: MIC ranges (lg/mL) were: NVP PDF-713, 0.25-2; cipro, 0.25 to >32; levo, 0.25-32; gati, 0.125-16; moxi, 0.03-8; vanco, 1-4; teico, 0.5-16; linez, 1-4; ranbez, 0.125-4; dapto, 0.125-2; tige, 

NVP 0/0 0/0 0/0 1/1 1/1 0/0 1/2 1/1 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 Cipro 3/5 1/2 0/0 6/7 2/3 2/2 6/7 2/5 2/3 6/7 2/7 2/4 Levo 4/5 1/2 0/0 8/8 3/5 1/1 9/9 4/8 1/5 9/9 7/8 3/7 Gati 6/10 2/2 0/0 10/12 5/9 3/4 11/12 9/12 2/7 10/12 7/12 3/8 Moxi 8/10 2/5 0/0 9/11 4/9 1/3 10/12 7/9 2/7 8/12 3/9 2/7 Vanco 33 0/0 0/0 9/10 1/2 0/0 11/12 4/9 3/3 8/12 5/10 3/9 Teico 02 0/0 0/0 4/8 0/0 0/0 10/10 4/6 0/0 9/12 6/11 3/6 Linezolid 00 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/1 0/0 0/0 Ranbez 00 0/0 0/0 1/1 0/0 0/0 1/3 0/0 0/0 2/10 0/1 0/0 Depto 911 6/9 0/5 12/12 9/11 6/9 12/12 11/12 5/10 11/12 10/12 8/11 Tigecyt 00 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/2 0/1 0/0 0/6 0/0 0/0 Oritavan 1212 10/12 2/7 12/12 12/12 8/12 11/12 9/11 9/10 8/12 6/12 6/12 Quin/Dalf 00 0/0 0/0 4/5 0/0 0/0 5/7 1/2 0/0 5/8 1/3 0/1 0.25-1; orita, 0.25-1; quinu/dalfo, 0.125-1. No. of strains at MIC/ 2 Â MIC with delta-1 log 10 CFU/mL (90%), delta-2 log 10 CFU/ mL (99%) and delta-3 log 10 CFU/mL (99.9%) Killing at the various time periods are shown in Table 1 . NVP PDF-713 was not cidal at 1 Â MIC and 2 Â MIC, but was static against all 12 strains at MIC after 24 h. Cipro and moxi were cidal against four to seven strains at 2 Â MIC after 24 h. Vanco was cidal at 2 Â MIC for nine strains after 24 h. Oxazolidinones, tigec and quinu/dalfo were mainly bacteriostatic and dapto and orita rapidly cidal. Conclusions: NVP PDF-713 gave low MICs and static activity against all strains, irrespective of methicillin susceptibility status.

P920 Time-kill study of the antipneumococcal activity of NVP PDF-713, a new peptide deformylase inhibitor, compared with 13 other agents P. Appelbaum, G. Pankuch, M. Jacobs Hershey, Cleveland, USA Background: Drug-resistant pneumococci are an increasing worldwide problem. Objective: NVP PDF-713 is a new peptide deformylase inhibitor. This study used time-kill analysis to examine the antipneumococcal activity of NVP PDF-713 compared with imipenem, meropenem, ceftriaxone, moxifloxacin, levofloxacin, gatifloxacin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, vancomycin, teicoplanin, linezolid, daptomycin, and quinupristin/dalfopristin. Twelve strains were tested: Three penicillin sensitive, two intermediate, and seven resistant pneumococci. Of the 12 strains tested; 10 were macrolide resistant [4 erm (B), 4 mef, 2 L4], and two quinolone resistant. Methodology: NCCLS macrodilution MIC methodology was used. Time-kill analyses were in cation-adjusted Mueller-Hinton broth with 5% lysed horse blood, and final inocula of 5 Â 10 5 -5 Â 10 6 CFU/mL. Mueller-Hinton broth was supplemented to a final concentration of 50 mg Ca 2þ /L for testing daptomycin. Viability counts were done after 0, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h. Results: MICs (lg/mL) were as follows: NVP PDF-713, 0.125-2.0; imipen, 0.004-0.25; meropen, 0.008-1.0; ceftriax, 0.016-4.0; moxi, 0.125-4.0; levo, 1.0-16; gati, 0.25-8.0; azithro, 0.06 to >64; clarithro, 0.016 to >64; vanco 0.25-0.5; teico, 0.06-0.125; linez, 0.5-2.0; dapto, 0.125-0.5; quin/dal, 0.25-1.0. The number of strains at MIC/ 2 Â MIC with log 10 CFU/mL values of À1 (90% killing), À2 (99% killing) and À3 (99.9% killing) at the various time periods are shown in Table 1 . Conclusions: NVP PDF-713 had kill kinetics similar to those of linezolid. NVP PDF-713 at 2 Â MIC was bactericidal (99.9% killing) against six strains after 24 h. Linezolid at 2 Â MIC was bactericidal against seven strains at the same period. Daptomycin and quinupristin/dalfopristin showed rapid killing. Imipenem, meropenem, vancomycin, and quinupristin/dalfopristin were bactericidal against all 12 strains at 2 Â MIC after 24 h. Objectives: NVP-PDF-713 is a new peptide deformylase inhibitor antimicrobial with excellent activity against Gram-positive cocci, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP). We used the neutropenic murine thigh-infection model to measure in vivo postantibiotic effects (PAEs) and determine which PK/PD parameter best correlated with in vivo efficacy. Methods: Mice had 106.6-7.4 CFU/thigh of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 and Streptococcus pneumoniae ATCC 10813 when treated for 24 h with 40-1280 mg/kg/day of NVP-PDF-713 fractionated for 3-, 6-, 12-, and 24-h dosing. Mice were sacrificed at the end of therapy. Ten per cent thigh homogenates were prepared, and serial dilutions were plated for CFU determinations. Serum levels after both oral and subcutaneous injection of doses of 20, 80 and 320 mg/kg were measured by microbiologic assay. Non-linear regression analysis was used to determine which PK/PD parameter (24-h AUC/MIC, peak/MIC or time above MIC) best correlated with CFU/thigh at 24 h. In vivo PAEs were measured from serial 2-6 h CFU/thigh values after doses of 80 and 320 mg/kg. Results: Pharmacokinetic studies exhibited linear kinetics with doses from 20 to 320 mg/kg, with peak/dose values of 0.10-0.12, AUC/dose values of 0.09-0.11 and half-lives of 26-30 min. Oral bioavailability was 67-88%. Protein binding in mouse serum was low at 25%. NAV-PDF-713 produced in vivo PAEs of 3-5 h with S. aureus and 10-13.5 h with S. pneumoniae. The 24-h AUC/MIC was highly correlated with efficacy (R 2 ¼ 84-87% for 24-h AUC/MIC compared with 34-76% for peak/MIC and 40-60% for time above MIC for S. pneumoniae and S. aureus, respectively). Because of the rapid half-life in mice, oncedaily dosing was slightly less effective than the more frequent dosing regimens. Conclusions: The 24-h AUC/MIC is the parameter that best correlates with in vivo activity of NVP-PDF-713. The prolonged in vivo PAEs would support at least twice daily dosing.

P922 In vivo pharmacodynamic activity of NVP-PDF-713 against multiple bacterial pathogens W. Craig, D. Andes Madison, Wisconsin, USA Objectives: The 24-h AUC/MIC is the PK/PD parameter that best correlates with in vivo activity of NVP-PDF-713, a new peptide deformylase inhibitor. We used the murine thigh-infection model 

NVP 0/0 0/0 0/0 2/3 0/1 0/0 8/9 1/2 1/2 7/10 4/8 2/6 Imipen 11/12 4/5 0/0 11/12 6/10 3/3 12/12 11/12 8/11 12/12 11/12 10/12 Meropen 8/9 2/3 1/1 11/12 7/7 3/3 11/12 7/11 4/9 8/12 7/12 5/12 Ceftriax 4/6 1/2 0/0 8/12 5/7 3/3 9/12 9/12 6/10 11/12 8/12 4/10 Moxi 1 5/8 0/1 0/0 8/10 4/6 1/2 9/10 8/10 5/9 10/10 8/10 7/10 Levo 1 5/5 0/0 0/0 8/10 4/6 1/1 10/10 8/10 3/6 9/10 9/10 5/10 Gati 1 4/6 0/1 0/0 7/10 2/7 1/1 10/10 6/10 3/7 9/10 8/10 4/9 Azithro 2 1/1 0/0 0/0 1/1 1/1 1/1 2/2 1/2 1/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 Clarithro 2 0/0 0/0 0/0 2/2 1/2 0/0 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 Vanco 4/4 0/1 0/0 12/12 5/6 2/3 12/12 11/11 9/9 11/12 10/12 9/12 Teico 0/0 0/0 0/0 5/6 1/1 0/0 9/10 6/7 3/4 9/12 8/12 7/10 Linez 0/0 0/0 0/0 2/4 0/1 0/1 6/11 1/4 0/1 8/12 4/11 2/7 Depto 7/10 2/4 2/2 12/12 11/11 4/8 11/12 10/11 7/11 8/12 5/11 3/11 Quin/Dal 10/11 7/9 4/5 12/12 11/11 6/9 11/12 10/11 7/11 7/12 5/12 3/12 in normal and neutropenic mice to determine (1) the magnitude of the 24-h AUC/MIC needed for efficacy of NVP-PDF-713 with various pathogens (including MRSA and penicillin-, macrolideand tetracycline-resistant strains of S. pneumoniae) and (2) the impact of neutrophils on the drug's in vivo activity. Methods: Mice had 106.7-7.9 CFU/thigh of five isolates of Staphylococcus aureus (two MRSA) and six isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae (five penicillin-resistant, four macrolide-resistant, three tetracycline-resistant strains) when treated for 24 h with 20-320 mg/kg of NVP-PDF-713 subcutantously every 6 h. Streptococcus pneumoniae ATCC10813 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 were studied simultaneously in normal and neutropenic mice. Mice were sacrificed at the start and end of therapy. Ten per cent thigh homogenates were prepared and serial dilutions were plated for CFU determinations. Serum levels were determined by microbiologic assay after subcutaneous doses of 20, 80 and 320 mg/kg. A sigmoid dose-response model was used to estimate the dose (mg/kg/24 h) required to achieve a net bacteriostatic effect over 24 h. Results: PK studies exhibited linear kinetics with AUC/dose values 0.09-0.11 and half-lives of 26-30 min. Protein binding was 25%. MICs ranged from 0.5 to 2.0 mg/L. Static doses for the various organisms ranged from 48 to 124 mg/kg/day. Mean 24-h AUC(free)/MIC values (AESD) were 33.3 AE 8.9 for S. aureus and 34.9 AE 10.0 for S. pneumoniae. The differences were not significant. Methicillin and penicillin resistance did not alter the magnitude of the AUC/MIC required for efficacy. The presence of neutrophils reduced the 24-AUC(free)/MIC required for efficacy by about fourfold. Conclusion: The 24-h AUC/MIC of NVP-PDF-713 required for in vivo efficacy was relatively similar among various pathogens, was not altered by drug resistance, and was reduced fourfold by the presence of neutrophils.

P923 Determination of quality control guidelines for MIC dilution and disk diffusion methods when testing NVP-PDF713, a novel peptide deformylase inhibitor T. Fritsche, T. Anderegg, R. Jones North Liberty, USA Background: Quality control (QC) guidelines remain necessary for accurate determination of antimicrobial susceptibility testing and should be established early in the development of new antimicrobial classes. NVP-PDF713 is a PDF inhibitor rapidly progressing into Phase II and III human clinical trials, thus QC guidelines appear necessary for NCCLS methods. Methods: Multi-laboratory (seven or eight sites) trials were initiated using the NCCLS M23-A2 guideline for QC determinations. Key technical details were: MIC phase -four Mueller-Hinton (MH) broth lots, eight participant sites and 10 replicates of four appropriate QC strains; and disk diffusion phase -three MH agar lots, seven sites and 10 replicates of three QC strains. Results were analysed by statistical methods found in M23-A2. Control drugs included vancomycin, clarithromycin, linezolid and levofloxacin; 99.9-100.0% of control results were within published NCCLS ranges (640 and 1050 results for MIC and zone tests, respectively). Inoculum concentration controls averaged 3.5 Â 10 5 (MIC trial only). Results: Seven or eight participants provided qualifying results in the two separate QC studies, and the calculated (proposed) ranges were (range; % results in range): E. faecalis ATCC 29212 (2-8 mg/ L; 95.6), S. aureus ATCC 29213 (0.5-2 mg/L; 99.4), S. pneumoniae ATCC 49619 (0.25-1 mg/L; 97.5 and 30-37 mm; 97.6), H. influenzae ATCC 49247 (1-4 mg/L; 97.5 and 24-32 mm; 99.8), and S. aureus ATCC 25923 (25-35 mm; 97.8). All QC ranges were maximised to contain %95% of reported results and zone sise variation was elevated due to the bacteriostatic character of this PDF inhibitor, creating non-discreet zone edges. Conclusions: QC ranges for NCCLS methods when testing NVP-PDF713 have been established. Results from these NCCLS M23-A2-conforming trials can be utilised to control the accuracy of the susceptibility testing of this PDF inhibitor projected to be among the 'first' to reach human clinical studies.

P924 Determination of dry-form commercial reagent reproducibility and MIC validations for NVP-PDF713, a novel peptide deformylase inhibitor G. Moet, R. Jones, P. Rhomberg, T. Fritsche North Liberty, USA Background: NVP-PDF713 is a new PDF inhibitor rapidly being advanced to human clinical trials. Commercial reagent broth microdilution MIC panels will be required for investigator laboratory use, especially those products with extended shelf-lives (dry-form). This study reports the results of reagent qualifying tests. Methods: The experiment was performed by NCCLS M23-A2 guidelines to assess dry-form MIC reproducibility (10 organisms  3 tests/day  3 days ¼ 90 tests) and comparative MIC accuracy to the reference MIC (REF; M7-A6, 2003) using %100 strains representing the following organism groups: staphylococci, enterococci, S. pneumoniae, other streptococci, H. influenzae, and selected species refractory to PDF inhibitor action. All trays were manufactured by Sensititre (TREK Diagnostics, Cleveland, OH). Results: Reproducibility results showed 80% of MICs were identical and 97.8% of MICs were within one log 2 dilution step. Validation test results comparing dry-form to REF MICs were (% identical/twofold/fourfold): for staphylococci (71/99/100%), for enterococci (55/99/100%), for S. pneumoniae (33/91/97%), for other streptococci (69/100/100%) and for H. influenzae (36/97/ 100%). Consistent variations were detected with SPN (49% of dry-form panel results being one dilution higher than REF) and HI (60% of results being one dilution lower than REF). NVP-PDF713 MICs were off-scale (MIC values, >32 mg/L) for Enterobacteriaceae and non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli (40 strains). Overall, 97% of Sensititre MIC results for were within one log 2 dilution of REF MIC values. Conclusions: NVP-PDF713 dry-form diagnostic MIC panels have been validated for accuracy and reproducibility using 520 recent clinical isolates from five major pathogen groups. The spectrum of activity for this PDF inhibitor compound appears focused toward Gram-positive cocci and specific fastidious respiratory tract pathogens. Objectives: The emergence of antibiotic resistance among Grampositive pathogens has impacted the clinical management of these infections. Paratek Pharmaceuticals initiated a programme to apply medicinal chemistry to the core structure of tetracycline (TET) with the goal of creating novel classes of proprietary antibiotics that would (a) be unaffected by the known TET resistance mechanisms and (b) retain the safety and tolerability profile of the TET family. Since there is no cross-resistance between the TETs and other antibiotics, such new agents would be expected to be active against isolates resistant to all other currently available classes. The aim of the programme was to synthesise new agents active against Gram-positive, common Gram-negative, atypical and anaerobic bacteria. Methods: A series of 7-position and 7,9-position derivatives of sancycline were synthesised and tested for activity in vitro against MRSA, VRE, Enterococcus faecalis and Streptococcus pneumoniae by microdilution. The presence of TET-resistance determinants was assessed by PCR and confirmed by resistance to currently available TETs. Results: A number of 7-dimethylamino-9-aminomethylcyclines (AMC) and 7-aryl or heteroaryl sancyclines with potent activity in vitro (MIC range less than or equal to 0.06-2.0 mg/L) were identified. Both novel series were more potent against one or more of the resistant strains than currently available antibiotics tested (MIC range 16-64 mg/L). The AMC derivatives were active against bacteria resistant to TET by both efflux and ribosome-protection mechanisms. Conclusions: This study identified the AMCs as a novel class of antibiotics evolved from TET that exhibit potent activity in vitro against TET-resistant bacteria, including Gram-positive bacteria resistant to currently available antibiotics. One agent of this class, BAY 73-7388 (discovered by Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Boston, MA, and designated PTK 0796) has been chosen for development. BAY 73-7388 is a novel antibiotic compound being developed for the treatment of severe bacterial infections. It is the first compound selected from the novel class of aminomethylcyclines and was designed to meet an increasingly significant need for additional therapies for treatment of infections, including those resistant to currently available antibiotics. The efficacy of BAY 73-7388 in different mouse models of skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) was compared with that of vancomycin (VAN) and linezolid (LIN). Methods: Two mouse models were employed to determine the efficacy of BAY 73-7388: (1) infected abscess model (induced by implantation and subsequent infection of Gelfoam (TM)) and (2) infected thigh muscle model in neutropenic mice. Staphylococcus aureus strain DSM11823 (MSSA) was used to infect the respective structures in the skin and soft tissues. Infected abscess bearing mice were treated i.v. bid for 2 days, while thigh muscle infection model mice were treated s.c. 30 min post-infection. CFU reduction of infected tissues and bacterial load in different organs (spread from the infection site) were used as read-out for therapeutic efficacy. Results: As measured by reduction of bacterial load, therapy of infected abscesses with BAY 73-7388 (CFU reduction >4 log units at 10 mg/kg) was superior to VAN and LIN (no reduction in bacterial load) . Furthermore, BAY 73-7388 reduced the overall bacterial load in spleen, liver, lung and heart. In the reduction of organ load, BAY 73-7388 was as efficacious as VAN Conclusions: This DAL activity survey indicates that this new glycopeptide has significant Gram-positive activity (96.9-100.0% inhibited at 1 mg/L), superior to available agents in the class, and the potency was similar for European isolates when compared with prior experience in other geographic areas. Background: Tigecycline (TIG) is a novel glycylcycline with broad spectrum activity. Increasing reports of resistance (R) among commonly occurring Gram-positive cocci (GPC) that produce respiratory tract and skin and soft tissue infections has created a need for development of new antimicrobial agents. In this study the activity and potency of TIG, tetracycline (TC) and other comparator agents was evaluated using contemporary isolates of commonly occurring species of GPC, including the presence of R organism subsets. Table. 1

Organism ( Methods: The activity of TIG and nine comparators was challenged with a collection of GPC including oxacillin (OXA)-susceptible (S; 3196 strains) and -R (1881 strains) S. aureus (SA); OXA-S (321 strains) and -R (1111 strains) coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS); penicillin (PEN)-S (1126 strains) and non-susceptible (NS; 459 strains) S. pneumoniae (SPN); penicillin-S (161 strains) and -NS (51 strains) viridans-group streptococci (VGS); beta-haemolytic streptococci (BHS; 405 strains); and vancomycin-S (1294 strains) and -R (122 strains) enterococci (ENT). Broth microdilution susceptibility tests were performed and analysed using NCCLs reference methods and interpretive criteria. Results: Whereas OXA-R subsets of both SA and CoNS displayed cross-resistance to TC, macrolides, clindamycin and quinolones, no differences were seen with TIG (MIC50/90 being 0.25 and 0.5 mg/L, respectively). Among streptococci, all SPN and VGS (regardless of PEN-S), and BHS demonstrated TIG MIC50/90s of 0.12 mg/L (one exception being PEN-intermediate VGS with the MIC90 at 0.25 mg/L). TIG was also uniformly active against enterococcal isolates, with MIC50/90s of vancomycin-S and -R subsets being 0.25 and 0.5 mg/L, and 0.12 and 0.25 mg/L, respectively. When using the NCCLS TC S breakpoint of 4 mg/L, all 10 127 staphylococci, streptococci and enterococci tested would be classified as S to TIG. Conclusions: TIG displays a remarkable spectrum of activity and potency against S and R subsets of GPC with the highest MIC90 being 0.5 mg/L. In addition to for use in treating communityacquired respiratory tract infections, TIG may also be a candidate for treatment of complicated skin and soft tissue infections and, possibly, urinary tract infections caused by GPC.

P938 Endemic, highly resistant Acinetobacter in the intensive care unit -is tigecycline the answer?

Objective: To find satisfactory antibiotic treatment against an organism, Acinetobacter baumanii, that became endemic on the intensive care unit of a busy District General Hospital. This organism is resistant to many antibiotics and in one case was ultimately resistant to all currently marketed antibiotics. Methods: (1) Surveillance of patients in the intensive care unit for the presence of Acinetobacter baumanii.

(2) Clinical assessment of patients with the organism to establish those needing antibiotic therapy. (3) Patients requiring treatment were given an antibiotic combination using colistin (usually combined with oral minocycline) or tigecycline monotherapy, a first-in-class glycylcycline agent. (4) Treatment and outcome were monitored. The study was observational. Allocation to treatment categories was not randomised or blinded. The tigecycline was used on a compassionate basis. Results: The intensive care unit was free of Acinetobacter until the beginning of 2001. By the end of 2001, 5-10 new isolates of Acinetobacter baumanii were isolated per quarter. Initially these pathogens were sensitive to imipenem, meropenem, tobramycin, amikacin, colistin, and minocycline. This sensitivity began to wane and, by the end of 2002, one patient had died with Acinetobacter baumanii in his bloodstream that was resistant to everything available. After this death, we tested further isolates of Acinetobacter against tigecycline, a new broad spectrum agent currently in Phase 3 development, and found it to be active against the endemic strain. Two patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by this organism were treated with tigecycline and made a full recovery. There were no adverse effects related to tigecycline treatment. Conversely, five patients with ventilator-associated pneumonias caused by the same organism were treated with colistin and failed to respond. Acinetobacter finds the respiratory system a favourable environment, and this, combined with the fact that the vast majority of the patients were ventilated resulted in ventilator-associated pneumonia being the commonest infection. Conclusion: Tigecycline is likely to be a useful agent in clinical practice on intensive care units when dealing with this difficult organism. Further evaluation is warranted. It may well be the antibiotic of choice.

P939 Antimicrobial activity of tigecycline (GAR-936) tested against enterobacteriaceae, and selected non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli, a worldwide sample R. Jones, T. Fritsche, H. Sader, M. Beach North Liberty, USA Background: As resistances (R) among Gram-negative bacilli (GNBs) expand, few antimicrobial agents have been developed to address this clinical problem. Tigecycline (TIG), a novel glycylcycline, has an expanded spectrum of activity and potency, tigecycline covers many routine Gram-negative resistant strains and additionally possesses activity versus some uncommonly isolated non-fermentative GNBs. This study compares TIG with contemporary broad-spectrum agents using recent clinical isolates from Europe and other continents. Methods: All strains (2420) were centrally processed by reference, broth microdilution methods against more than 20 antimicrobials. All concurrent QC results were within NCCLS published ranges, with identifications performed by traditional methods and/or the Vitek System. Over 2400 isolates were tested from the Enterobacteriaceae (ENT) and non-fermentative GNBs categories. Susceptibility (S) for TIG was defined as 4 mg/L, that breakpoint used for all tetracyclines by the NCCLS. Results: The ENT were divided into three groups for analysis: ESBL-producing isolates (154 strains), Proteae group (131 strains; includes P. mirabilis and indole-positive species) and all enteric bacilli. TIG was very active against all ESBL-producing isolates (MIC90, 0.25-2 mg/L; highest among TC-R subsets), and all ENT (MIC50/90, 0.25/1 mg/L). Proteae had a MIC90 at 4 mg/L and all but one of TIG-R or intermediate strains (MICs, 8 and 16 mg/L) were M. morganii or P. mirabilis. P. aeruginosa was marginally inhibited by TIG (MIC90, 32 mg/L). In contrast, Acinetobacter spp. (MIC90, 2 mg/L; 96.1% S) and S. maltophilia (MIC90, 2 mg/L; 100.0% S) were readily inhibited by TIG. Among all ENT studied, 31.0% were TC-R, but only one strain (P. mirabilis) was TIG-R (MIC at 16 mg/L). Conclusions: Remarkable potency and breadth of spectrum was observed for TIG against ENT (99.4% at 4 mg/L vs. 66.8% for TC), S. maltophilia and Acinetobacter spp. Limited activity was noted versus P. aeruginosa (16.0% at 4 mg/L) and some Proteae (MIC90, 4 mg/L). TIG should be of value for the treatment of infections caused by several commonly R GNB groups. Background: Tigecycline (TIG, formerly GAR-936), is a novel glycylcycline which is currently in phase 3 clinical trials. The in vitro activity of the TIG was evaluated in comparison with tetracycline (TET) and other antimicrobial agents against recent (2000) (2001) (2002) clinical isolates collected worldwide from patients with respiratory infections and meningitis. Methods: A total of 1727 isolates were tested against TIG and more than 20 comparator agents by broth microdilution according to the NCCLS reference methods and interpretative criteria. The collection included, H. influenzae (HI; 1215 strains, 20% betalactamase-producing), M. catarrhalis (MCAT; 495 strains, 96% beta-lactamase-producing), and N. meningitidis (NM; 17 strains). Results: TIG demonstrated excellent activity against these organisms with all isolates being inhibited at 4 mg/L (TET susceptibility breakpoint). TIG was highly active against HI (MIC90, 1 mg/L) and MCAT (MIC90, 0.25 mg/L), and its potency against these pathogens was not affected by beta-lactamase production. TIG was fourfold more potent than TET against HI and TETresistant isolates showed low ( 1 mg/L) TIG MICs. NM isolates were highly susceptible to TIG (MIC90, 0.12 mg/L) and to the vast majority of antimicrobial agents evaluated.

Conclusions: These results indicate that tigecycline has potent in vitro activity against clinically important Gram-negative bacteria that cause community-acquired respiratory infections and meningitis, including TET-R isolates. Further evaluations of TIG activity, as well as, clinical studies are necessary to assess the role of this compound in the treatment of both community-and hospitalacquired infections. Background and objectives: Beta-lactamase production is the major mechanism of bacterial resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics in Gram-negative pathogens, and surveillance of beta-lactamase determinants is an important issue of microbial drug resistance. Given the great diversity of beta-lactamases and their overlapping substrate specificities, molecular analysis is necessary to identify the nature of beta-lactamase genes in clinical isolates. In this work we investigated the potential of the DNA microarray technology for a rapid and comprehensive detection of beta-lactamase genes in drug-resistant bacteria. Methods: A total of 104 oligonucleotide probes were designed for specific recognition of beta-lactamase genes of 65 different lineages (18 of molecular class A, 19 of class B, 13 of class C and 15 of class D). A DNA chip was designed including a triplicate set of probes, as well as positive hybridisation controls. The microarray was printed on epoxy-modified glass slides using an Affymetrix GMS 417 robotic spotter. Genomic DNA was labelled with Cy3 or Cy5 by random priming. Hybridisation signals were then detected using an Affymetrix 418 laser scanner and images were analysed by the GenePix Pro (version 5.0) software. Results: The DNA chip was tested with 23 Gram-negative strains (including both reference strains and clinical isolates) in which the repertoire of beta-lactamase genes was partially known or unknown. All the predicted beta-lactamase genes (among which there were members of the blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCTX-M, blaPER, blaVIM, blaIMP, blaCMY-LAT groups of acquired genes) were correctly detected by microarray hybridisation. In clinical isolates of unknown beta-lactamase content, the microarray detected genes whose presence was subsequently confirmed by conventional PCR assays. False-positives were observed with a subset of probes, which had to be redesigned to overcome the problem. Conclusions: Successful detection of several different beta-lactamase genes of clinical importance was achieved by using a DNA microchip. The DNA microarray technology appears to be a sensitive and specific tool for rapid detection and characterisation of beta-lactamase genes in clinical isolates. Objectives: Some members of the genus Citrobacter are potential pathogens of debilitated hospital patients. They can become resistant to beta-lactamases, including third generation cephalosporins due to over-expression of a chromosomal beta-lactamase. Eleven species are currently known, but speciation is often difficult using biochemical tests. Isolates previously typed as Citrobacter diversus are now known as Citrobacter koseri. Here we measured sequence variation at the beta-lactamase structural gene amongst a group of clinical isolates, originally identified as C. diversus by API 20E profiling. Methods: Nine C. diversus isolates were collected from faecal samples of children being treated in the oncology department of Bristol Children's hospital in the early 1980s. Beta-lactamase and 16S rRNA genes were amplified by PCR and sequenced by standard methods. Beta-lactamase induction was attempted in liquid-grown cultures using cefoxitin (10 mg/L for 2 h). Nitrocefin hydrolysis assays were performed using a spectrophotometer. Results: Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences confirm that, of the nine clinical isolates, Five, which all have an inducible betalactamase gene whose sequence is closely related to C. diversus NF85 and ULA27, are actually Citrobacter amalonaticus. Given that C. diversus isolates have all been renamed C. koseri, this error in nomenclature must be addressed. The reason for the error is that C. diversus was known to have variability in its ability to utilise malonate, the only differentiation between C. koseri and C. diversus. Four of the test isolates do type as C. koseri using 16S rRNA sequencing. These true C. koseri isolates produce a novel, acidic, class A beta-lactamase, named CkoA, constitutively. The sequence of this beta lactamase gene was determined, and is only 40% identical to the C. diversus (now C. amalonaticus cdiA).

Conclusions: We present a new beta-lactamase sequence, from C. koseri and shows that C. koseri NF85 and ULA27 should be retyped as C. amalonaticus. Beta-lactamase-specific PCR may provide a valuable tool for typing Citrobacter spp. isolates, and is very suitable for separating C. amalonaticus and C. koseri, which are very closely related biochemically. The knowledge that clinical C. koseri isolates produce a beta-lactamase constitutively at low levels may be useful clinically.

P944 A single-tube PCR with MGB Eclipse probes for detection of SHV-type extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs)

A. Ekimov, M. Edelstein, E. Belousov Smolensk, RUS; Bothell, USA Objectives: ESBLs of the SHV-type are one of the most common and clinically significant beta-lactamases. The number of SHV variants is continuously growing; however ESBL activity of SHV enzymes has been associated with mutations at relatively few amino acid positions (aa-s) as compared with the TEM enzymes.

Here we propose a simple and rapid method that allows detection of all the known SHV ESBLs in a single real-time PCR reaction. Methods: The proposed method is based on amplification of blaSHV genes in the presence of short (13-14 nt) fluorogenic probes capable of hybridisation-triggered fluorescence. These probes commercially known as MGB Eclipse probes contain a dark quencher with a conjugated minor groove binder at the 5¢-end and a fluorescent dye at the 30-end. This structure allows detection and differentiation of nucleotide polymorphisms at targeted sites by post-PCR melting curve analysis. Four probes were designed to perfectly match the wild-type (WT) sequences at mutation sites corresponding to aa-s 146, 149, 156, 179 and 238. Thus, mutations conferring ESBL activity were expected to specifically lower the melting temperatures (Tm-s) of the probe-template duplexes. Each probe was labelled with a unique dye permitting analysis of mutations at multiple sites in a single reaction. Results: The method was validated using laboratory strains producing the SHV-1 (WT, non-ESBL control), SHV-2, 3, 4, 5 (G238S), SHV-18 (G238A), SHV-6 (D179A), SHV-8 (D179N) and strains carrying cloned blaSHV fragments to which the naturally occurring mutations D179G, G156D, T149S and A146V were introduced by site-directed mutagenesis. Following careful design of the probes and optimisation of PCR conditions, all the above mutations were successfully detected and discriminated from the WT sequence and each other according to specific Tm-s. The detection was precise and highly reproducible in repeated experiments. Furthermore, when applied to the analysis of 10 clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae expressing ESBL phenotype, the method was able to detect multiple SHV alleles (WT and G238S or D179A) in the same isolates. This observation is particularly important considering the high frequency of co-production of the SHV-1 and ESBLs in klebsiellae. Conclusions: A PCR with MGB Eclipse probes has a great potential for studying the epidemiology of SHV ESBLs and possibly for analysis of other antimicrobial resistance mechanisms associated with mutations at defined loci. Methods: A total of 356 non-repeat enterococcal blood isolates (250 E. faecalis and 106 E. faecium) were collected during 1994 to 2001 from hospitals located in south east of Sweden. The bacterial isolates were identified by standard microbiological methods and susceptibility testing was performed with a 30-lg gentamicin disk on PDM-agar (AB Biodisk) to detect HLGR isolates. All isolates were tested for the presence of the aac(6¢)Ie-aph(2¢¢)Ia gene using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Results: There was complete correlation between the gentamicin disk diffusion test and the PCR results. All 40 HLGR isolates, as defined by disk diffusion, and the positive control (E. faecalis ATCC 51299) carried the aac(6¢)Ie-aph(2¢¢)Ia gene as judged from the PCR results. The resistant gene was not found in the negative control ATCC 29212 or any of the 316 non-HLGR enterococci. Conclusion: This study shows that in our setting the sensitivity and specificity of the disk diffusion method for the detection of HLGR enterococci is very high and there is a total agreement with the results obtained by using a PCR technique for detection of the aac(6¢)Ie-aph(2¢¢)Ia aminoglycoside modifying gene. Objectives: The main objective was to develop a pyrosequencing method for identification of Enterococcus spp. species with Pyrosequencing method. Also, development of antibiotic resistance with special reference to macrolide resistance will be studied by susceptibility testing in samples isolated serially from subject exposed to clindamycin. Methods: Biochemical identification of the enterococcal strains from faecal samples was done by growth at 45 C, catalase and hydrolyse of 1-pyrridonyl-beta-naphtylamide (PYR). Species identification was done with Pyrosequencing method. PSQ 96MA pyrosequencing technique enabled identification of different Enterococcus species based on their 16S rRNA V2-regions signature-sequences. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done by agar dilution method on Mü ller-Hinton II medium, according to NCCLS. MIC values were tested against erythromycin, clindamycin, ciprofloxacin, ampicillin, gentamicin, vancomycin and tetracycline. Macrolide resistance genes; erm(B), erm(TR) and mef(A) was studied by Multiplex-PCR. Results: With Pyrosequencing method, we identified 46 Enterococcus faecium, 22 E. faecalis, 11 E. avium and 33 E. casseliflavus species, and 54 non-enterococci species. The antibiotic susceptibility testing showed that 26.5% of the Enterococcus strains were resistant to erythromycin, 14.8% to ciprofloxacin and 17.4% to tetracycline. About 31.6% of the Enterococcae had erm(B)-gene. Conclusion: Pyrosequencing was rapid and easy method for identification of bacterial strains even to the species level. Antibiotic resistance varied a lot between different bacterial strains, as E. faecium and E. casseliflavus species being the most resistant ones. Pyrosequencing results correlated well with species phenotype and antibiotic resistance. Objectives: To determine the species distribution of vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) isolated from hospitalised patients and detect genes encoding resistance to vancomycin and teicoplanin, by sandwich hybridisation method. and cphA genes by PCR, but not actual enzyme production, may be attributed to so-called 'silent' genes. Susceptible strains are known to be able to convert to high-level beta-lactam/carbapenem resistance by increasing the expression of 'nearly' silent metallobeta-lactamase genes. Metallo-beta-lactamases have been found to be carried on a small plasmid (13.6 kb) that appears to be selftransmissible, posing a potential threat of rapid spread of resistance. Therefore early recognition of metallo-beta-lactamase producing strains is imperative. To describe the distribution of species in our Nocardia isolates and to evaluate the usefulness of an easy and rapid method based on a short battery of susceptibility tests to identify clinical Nocardia isolates compared with PCR and restriction analysis of hsp65 routinely used in our laboratory. Methods: Nocardia sp. isolated from 1995 to 2003 were selected to study. Molecular identification was performed by hsp65 PCR-RFLP. Identification by susceptibility testing was by disk diffusion with gentamicin (CN), tobramycin (TOB), amikacin (AK) and erythromycin (E) and by broth microdilution and E-test with ampicillin (AMP), ciprofloxacin (C), cefotaxime (CTX) and amoxicillinclavulanate (AUG). Results: 34 isolates of Nocardia sp. were studied. Distribution of species according to results from PCR-RFLP was: N. asteroides I (4), N. asteroides VI (15), N. farcinica (10), N. nova (3), N. otitidis-caviarum (2). N. asteroides I isolates had two different susceptibility patterns, two isolates were CN-S, TOB-S, AK-S, E-R and the other two were CN-R, TOB-S, AK-S, E-R. All N. asteroides I isolates were AMP > 8 lg/mL and C > 4 lg/mL and CTX < 2 lg/mL. Eightyseven per cent of N. asteroides VI were CN-S, TOB-S, AK-S, E-R, AMP > 8 lg/mL, CTX < 8 lg/mL whereas C was variable. Hundred per cent of isolates of N. farcinica were CN-R, TOB-R, AK-S, E-R, AMP > 8 lg/mL, C < 4 lg/mL and CTX > 32 lg/mL. N. nova isolates were CN-S, TOB-S, AK-S, E-S, AMP < 4 lg/mL, CTX < 2 lg/mL and C < 4 lg/mL. N. otitidis-caviarum isolates were CN-S, TOB-S, AK-S, E-R, AMP > 8 lg/mL, CTX > 32 lg/mL and C < 4 lg/mL. Medium time to obtain results by both methods was 48 h. Conclusions: 94% of isolates belonged to the former N. asteroides complex. N. farcinica and N. nova were easily distinguished from other Nocardia species by its susceptibility patterns. The main group N. asteroides VI was more difficult to distinguish from N. asteroides I and N. otitidis-caviarum. A short battery of susceptibility tests permits rapid differentiation of our most frequent Nocardia isolates, although genotypic tests are more discriminatory. The Ixodes ricinus tick, common ectoparasite of animals and humans, is the main vector of Lyme disease in the Czech republic. Detection of Borrelia under microscope, isolation in BSK-H medium and PCR identification was the aim of this work. Methods: A tick was crushed in drop of sterile phosphate buffer saline and admired under microscope in dark-field. Samples, in which spirochetes had been detected, were incubated in liquid BSK-H medium (Sigma) at 33 C and admired weekly for 6 weeks. Each strais was passaged twice and was frozen in 1.8-mL aliquots at À70 C. Direct fluorescence assay (DFA) with fluorescein labelled polyclonal antibody to Borrelia burgdorferi was used for screening. Deoxyribonucleic acid of borrelial strains was isolated with Invisorb Genomic DNA Kit III (Invitec). Three sets of primers (for B. burgdorferi sensu lato, B. garinii and B. afzelii) derived from 16SrRNA gene (Rosa and Schwan) were used for elementary identification of strains. Detailed analysis of strains was made by Light cycler real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Primers and probe derived from recA gene were used in this method. Results: There was a collection of 6283 ticks in urban and suburban localities of the Czech republic from 1998 to 2002 years. Incidence of spirochetes in tick population differed from 1 to 23.5% in different localities. Spirochetes were cultured from at least one of six ticks (27 out of 156) that were tested positive by dark-field microscopy. All strains reacted positively by DFA and gave positive response with primers specific for B. burgdorferi sensu lato complex. Nineteen strains belonged to B. garinii, four to B. afzelii and two to B. burgdorferi sensu stricto genospecies. One strain did not react with 16SrRNA primers for B. garinii but had melting temperature of recA gene product identical with B. garinii type strain. We identified the genotype of two strains determined as B. burgdorferi sensu lato neither by PCR, nor by RT-PCR. uors, blood and tissue were subjected to sequencing with the dideoxy chain termination technique using CEQ 2000CX sequencer. Cultivation, immunocytochemistry and Western blots were used for confirmation. Results: We cultured four blood, six skin, six CSF isolates, numerous tick and two animal isolates. Real-time PCR targeted recA, 16S and OspA genes showed that involvement of the nervous system, joints and skin in Czech patients was predominantly caused by B. garinii, serotypes 3,5,6 (54%), then B. burgdorferi ss (26%) and B. afzelii (10-16%). The remaining 4-10% comprise coinfection with Anaplasma phagocytophila or mixed borrelial infections. Similar results were found in 424 animals. Among game animals 22% tested positive with B. garinii and B. burgdorferi. Wild boars and murids hosted Borrelia sp. in 7 and 12% with prevalence of B. afzelii. No significant differences were noticed between the infection of adult and nymphal ticks, both reaching 20 and 12% in June and September, respectively. Diferences were also between regions, in east Bohemia with B. garinii prevailing and in Moravia with prevalence of B. afzelii and human cases of Erythema migrans and Acrodermatitis atrophicans. Infection prevalence data for patients were in agreement with data for the tick and animals. Objectives: The aim of our study was to identify the strains of Borrelia isolated from ticks and Lyme disease patients in the Russian Far East and to analyse their taxonomic positions based on ospA gene phylogeny. Methods: We have analysed 30 strains of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato isolated from Ixodes persulcatus ticks (25) and skin biopsies of Erythema migrans from Lyme disease patients (5) isolated by standard methods during last 6 years in the Russian Far East. After amplification with newly designed primers, we obtained full-length ospA gene sequence of each of the 30 strains. Results: We identified four strains as B. afzelii completely identical to the strain XJ23, isolated in Japan. All of them were isolated from ticks. The other 26 strains were found to be genetically variable, but the closest homology found was with B. garinii. After phylogenetic analysis of ospA gene we found that these strains form three distinct and well-defined clades at the phylogenetic tree. Genogroups 1 and 2 represent only species isolated in the Far Easter regions of the Russian Federation and in Japan only, whereas genogroup 3 represents mostly European isolates, including seroand genogroups defined in the works of B. Wilsske et al. and G. Will et al. and four isolates from the Russian Far East. European serogroups 3 and 7 form the clade localised between genogroups 2 and 3. Human strains were found within genogroups 1 and 2. Conclusion: B. garinii was found to dominate among other B. burgdorferi sensu lato strains isolated from ticks and Lyme disease patients form the Russian Far East. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the species identified as B. garinii have significant variability in the ospA gene and form three major groups. Two groups consisting only of strains isolated in the Far East are significantly remote from all other B. burgdorferi sensu lato species. Bootstrap values and distances among these groups suggest their solidity, especially genogroup 1. This, probably, indicates the distinct origin of defined genogroups 1 and 2 of B. garinii and may suggest another taxonomic status. Objectives: For diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis (LB) a two-step approach is recommended by CDC and DGHM (screening ELISA followed by immunoblot (IB) in case of reactive ELISA). Though Borrelia IBs are widely used, they are still poorly defined regarding sensitivity, specificity and standardisation. A recently described recombinant Western immunoblot (WIB) complemented with Borrelia antigens produced in vivo but not in culture (i.e. VlsE) could improve previous tests (1). Here a recombinant Borrelia line IB (LIB) was developed where each recombinant antigen is separately detectable, even those antigens with identical molecular weight. Methods: The following recombinant IgG and IgM IBs were compared: (a) The WIB described in (1) with p83/p100 (strain PKo, B. afzelii), p58 (strain PBi, B. garinii OspA-type 4), BmpA (strains PKa2, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, PKo, and PBi), VlsE (strain PKa2), OspC (strains PKa2, PKo, PBi, and B. garinii strain 20047) , and DbpA (strains PKo and PBr, B. garinii OspA-type 3). (b) The LIB with all antigens of the WIB and in addition VlsE (strains PKo and PBi), OspC (strain PLe, B. afzelii) and DbpA (strains B31 and PBi). To verify sensitivity and specificity, 65 sera of patients with early LB (50 early neuroborreliosis, 15 Erythema migrans) and 110 control sera (60 blood donors, 10 rheumatoid factor positive, 10 syphilis patients and 30 patients with fever of unknown origin) were studied. Results: IB interpretation criteria defining a serum as positive with at least two reactive bands or in case of IgM at least one strong OspC band were used (2). Sensitivity significantly increased from 63% (WIB) to 80% (LIB) for IgG and from 46% (WIB) to 69% (LIB) for IgM while specificity remained unchanged (99% for IgG tests and 98% for IgM tests). The increase of sensitivity was mainly due to the line blot technique, which allows detection and identification of antibodies differently reactive with homologues of the same protein.

Conclusion: The LIB is more sensitive than the WIB for both IgG and IgM antibody detection in acute LB while specificity remains unchanged. The LIB is better to standardise and results are easier to interpret. Background: Tick of the Ixodes ricinus group are well known as major vectors of the causative agents of Lyme borreliosis, granulocytic anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and babesiosis in European countries. The humans infected with these agents can experience a wide range of clinical manifestations. I. ricinus is a widely distributed tick in Lithuania and may transmit pathogens to mammalian hosts, including human beings. A single tick may contain several different pathogens so double-infection with borreliosis and ehrlichiosis may be seen. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether I. ricinus ticks collected in different regions of Lithuania were infected with the causative agents of Lyme borreliosis, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and babesiosis agents and to estimate the prevalence of mixed infections in them by PCR. No investigations have been carried out to assess the prevalence of Borrelia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and Babesia infection in I. ricinus in Lithuania using the PCR method before. Methods: Altogether, 243 I. ricinus ticks collected from 10 different regions of Lithuania, were included in this study. All ticks were analysed individually. The presence Ehrlichia/Anaplasma group pathogen was determined by using PCR with Ehrlichia/Anaplasma-specific primers HR521/EHR747, multiplex PCRs using species-specific Borrelia primers GI-R/GI-L (Borrelia burgdorferi s.s.), GII-R/GII-L (B. garinii), GIII-R/GIII-L (B. afzelii). Real-time PCR method with the ABI Prism 7000 system was used to detect Babesia divergens. Ehrlichia/Anaplasma species were determined using the reverse line blot hybridisation. Results: Of the 243 individually processed ticks, 12 (5%) were positive for Ehrlichia/Anaplasma (HGE -3, HGE variant -1, E Schotii -2 and 6 were not identified), 38 (16%) for Borrelia (B. burgdorferi s.s -one (0.4%), B. garinii -12 (5%), B. afzelii -25 (10%) and 5 (2%) were positive for Babesia divergens. One tick contained both Ehrlichia/Anaplasma and Babesia, two contained both Babesia and B. afzelii and one Ehrlichia/Anaplasma and B. garinii.

Conclusions: Our results represent the first study in Lithuania in which Borrelia, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma and Babesia parasites were directly identified in I. ricinus ticks by PCR, multiplex PCR, reverse line blot hybridisation and real-time PCR. It was detected that B. afzelii was the dominant genospecies in Lithuanian ticks (10%) and Ehrlichia/Anaplasma and Babesia were found in ticks too and might cause human diseases.

Molecular bacteriology: characterisation of agents P957 Improved automated ribotyping using HindIII to discriminate previously uniform Listeria monocytogenes serotype 4b strains I. Heller, K. Grif, M. Dierich, R. Wü rzner Innsbruck, A Objectives: To develop improved automated subtyping approaches for Listeria monocytogenes, we characterised the discriminatory power of different restriction enzymes for ribotyping. PvuII and HindIII were evaluated for their ability to differentiate among isolates representing one of the two major serotype 4b epidemic clones, having ribotype reference pattern DUP-1038 (which differs from the other clone DUP-1042 in the EcoRI pattern only). This is of utmost importance, as the presence of only two major patterns within the serotype 4b does not allow sufficient epidemiology of Listeria infections. Methods and results: The eight selected L. monocytogenes isolates (serotype 4b) with the ribotype reference pattern DUP-1038 were responsible for human listeriosis outbreaks in France, Canada, Switzerland and Turkey from 1978 to 2002, and for sporadic foodborne cases in Austria (2002), England (1987 and 1989) and the USA. Ribotyping was performed using the RiboPrinter microbial characterisation system according to the manufacturer's instructions using EcoRI, PvuII and HindIII as restriction enzymes. We found that the eight isolates belonging to DUP-1038 (i.e. indistinguishable by EcoRI) were also indistinguishable by PvuII but yielded two clearly different patterns when using HindIII. Conclusions: We conclude that automated ribotyping using Hin-dIII allows discriminating previously uniform L. monocytogenes 4b isolates. This discrimination may facilitate the tracing of outbreaks and may also improve epidemiological surveys.

P958 Detection of BFT, the isoforms of the enterotoxin gene and cfiA gene in Bacteroides fragilis isolates of different origins G. Terhes, J. Soki, K. Ago, E. Urban, E. Nagy Szeged, HUN Objectives: Bacteroides fragilis is an obligate anaerobic, Gram-negative rod constituting 1% of the normal intestinal flora of humans, and is the Gram-negative anaerobic rod most frequently isolated from human clinical samples. Some of the B. fragilis isolates produce a zinc-dependent metallo-protease, enterotoxin coded by the bft gene. This protein has enterotoxic activity; it causes fluid accumulation in a lamb ligated ileal loop model. To date, three different isoforms, designated bft-1, bft-2 and bft-3, have been identified. The literature regards the enterotoxin-producing property of B. fragilis as a virulence factor since these strains can be isolated more often from severe infections such as sepsis, or abdominal and deep soft-tissue abscesses. It is also thought to be involved in diarrhoea in 1-5-year-old children. Aims and methods: The aim of the present study was to examine the prevalence of enterotoxin production among B. fragilis strains isolated between 2001 and 2003 from specimens originating in clinical wards of our university or in other hospitals by HT-29 cytotoxicity testing or PCR detection of the bft gene. The results obtained with the two methods were compared. The frequencies of three alleles of bft genes in enterotoxigenic strains from different sources were determined by using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The B. fragilis strains can be divided into two major groups by molecular typing methods and most importantly according to the carriage of the cfiA gene. We therefore also examined the occurrence of the cfiA gene by PCR and the co-incidence of bft and cfiA among the above collection of strains. Results: The average occurrence of toxigenic B. fragilis strains in the different groups of clinical samples was 10% and in deep-tissue infections was 15% by both the PCR method and the cytotoxicity assay. bft genes were found only in the cfiA-negative group. The prevalence of the cfiA gene corresponded to our earlier findings and data from the literature and we did not observe co-incidence of the bft and cfiA genes in this study. Introduction: In addition to the two large clostridial cytotoxins (LCT -toxins A and B) some strains of Clostridium difficile also produce an actin-specific ADP-ribosyltransferase (binary toxin CDT). CDT may serve as an additional virulence factor. Methods: We used PCR and Southern blotting methods for detection of genes encoding the enzymatic (CDTa) and binding (CDTb) components of binary toxin in 369 strains isolated from patients with suspected C. difficile-associated diarrhoea or colitis. Binary toxin production was assessed by Western blotting using antisera against the iota toxin of C. perfringens (anti-Ia and Ib). Toxin activity was detected with an ADP-ribosyltransferase assay. PCR amplification was performed to detect the gene encoding for toxin B. Binary positive strains were subjected to toxinotyping and were characterised by phenotypic (serogrouping) and genotypic markers (PCR-ribotyping, arbitrarily primed PCR (AP-PCR) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE)). Results: Twenty-two strains (prevalence 6%) harboured both genes cdtA and cdtB; 19 out of the 22 strains reacted with antisera against the iota toxin of C. perfringens; the binary toxin activity was positive in only 17 of the 22 strains. All strains also produced toxins B. However, they had significant changes in tcdA and tcdB genes and belonged to variant toxinotypes III, IV, V, VII, IX and XIII. With typing methods used we could differentiate 16 profiles, indicating that most of binary toxin positive strains were unrelated. Conclusion: Binary toxin-producing isolates of C. difficile are widespread but prevalence varies from one country to another. More studies are needed to define the role of binary toxin in pathogenesis.

Clostridium difficile in Singapore W.Y. Leong, R. Das Ramadas, T.H. Koh, K.P. Song Singapore, SGP Objective: Occurrence of nosocomial Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea and pseudomembranous colitis is related to the production of toxins A and B (encoded by tcdA and tcdB, respectively) from the pathogen. tcdA and tcdB, together with their accessory genes, tcdC-E are arranged within a well-defined chromosomal region termed Pathogenicity Locus (PaLoc). Another virulence factor, ADP-ribosyltransferase binary toxin (encoded by cdt genes) was reported to be found in approximately 12% of pathogenic strains of C. difficile. Despite the availability of a number of detection methods, the identification methods commonly used are not designed to detect all the virulence factors known. We present here an alternative characterisation of the toxigenic and the related genes of C. difficile based on genotyping. The correlation between PaLoc and cdt genes was also examined. Methods: All 110 clinical isolates from Singapore General Hospital (SGH) were screened with PCR and multiplex PCR for the presence of tcdA-E and cdtA-B in the PaLoc region and cdt operon, respectively. The production and activity of toxins A and B were analysed by commercial kit and cytotoxicity testing. Results: The isolates could be classified into 16 groups based on the genotypic analysis of the PaLoc and cdt genes. Approximately 21% of them shared a common profile with the reference strain VPI 10463, and about 36% were completely devoid of the genes tested. Variations demonstrated in tcdC-E were complicated and no specific profile could be attributed to a particular genotype. An atypical toxigenic variant was discovered which contains only tcdB. In contrast to data reported elsewhere, none of the pathogenic strains was found to contain complete cdt genes. When tested for TcdA and TcdB production, six strains were identified to be toxins A-negative, B-positive. Conclusion: The great genetic polymorphisms displayed by the C. difficile isolates here confirm that these strains were highly heterogeneous and could originate from endogenous source. There is no significant correlation between presence of the structural genes (tcdA-B), accessory genes (tcdC-E) and cdt genes. Pathogenic strains do not necessarily contain all the genes in the PaLoc. In conclusion, our results using this toxino-genotyping method for the studies of genetic distribution of toxinogenic genes correlates well with the phenotype of the bacteria i.e. toxin expression. P961 Characterisation of Clostridium difficile strains isolated in different time periods and belonging to different ribotypes P. Spigaglia, V. Carucci, P. Mastrantonio Rome, I Objectives: Seventy-four Clostridium difficile clinical isolates, collected in different time periods, were typed by PCR-ribotyping. Strains belonging to the two main PCR-ribotypes were characterised for virulence determinants and for antibiotics resistance. Methods: PaLoc genes analysis, detection of binary toxin gene and antibiotic resistance determinants (ermB, tetM and catD) were performed by PCR assays. erm(B) sequence type was identified by a RFLP-PCR. MICs for erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline and chloramphenicol were determined by E-test. Results: Two main PCR-ribotypes named A and R, respectively, were identified. PCR-ribotype A collected 20 strains whereas 15 strains belonged to PCR-ribotype R. Old strains (from 1985 to 1990) belonged to PCR-ribotype A, whereas recent strains (from 2000 to 2001) belonged to PCR-ribotype R. All strains with PCR-ribotype A had classical PaLoc genes and did not have the binary toxin gene. Ninety percent of these strains were multiresistant and the sequence type of the ermB genes was similar to that of C. difficile 630. All strains belonging to PCR-ribotype R had the binary toxin gene, four of them showed major variations in the toxin A gene and 87% had a mutated toxin negative regulator. None of these strains was multi-resistant although one showed all three antibiotic resistance determinants. Fifty three percent had a tetM gene, 13% tetM and ermB genes and 7% only an ermB gene with a sequence similar to that of C. perfringens CP592. Interestingly, as far as resistance is concerned, there was no correspondence between phenotype and genotype in 75% of these strains. In particular, all strains with a tetM or a catD gene were susceptible to tetracycline and chloramphenicol in vitro, whereas five strains, resistant to erythromycin but not to clindamycin, did not have an ermB gene. All these strains showed, after induction with erythromycin, some clindamycin resistant colonies. Conclusions: The results seem to indicate a recent spread of C. difficile clones that add together a potential increase of virulence by acquisition of the binary toxin, variations in genes belonging to the PaLoc and acquisition of different mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. Enterococci are natural inhabitants of the gastrointestinal flora of humans and animals and are widely distributed in the environment. Members of this genus are recognised as important opportunistic pathogens responsible for serious infections but the molecular mechanisms of enterococcal virulence are not yet completely understood. In this study 42 Enterococci from different sources, including clinical isolates (from human and veterinarian origin), non-clinical isolates and reference strains from 19 enterococcal species, were typified and their virulence potential characterised. The relationships among these Enterococci were first analysed using SmaI pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and M13 PCR-fingerprinting, in order to evaluate the genomic heterogeneity of the isolates. Enterococci were also screened for several virulence traits such as cytolysin (cyl genes), adhesins (agg, esp, EfaAfs and EfaAfm genes) and gelatinase (gelE), revealing distinct virulence potentials. In Enterococcus faecalis, it was recently described that some virulence determinants can be clustered on large pathogenicity islands and not only in pheromone-responsive plasmids. Dot-blot DNA-DNA hybridisation was used to locate virulence determinants in the bacterial genome of the Enterococci under study. No conclusive results were obtained for esp and gelE, whereas EfaAfs and EfaAfm were found on the chromosome as expected. Although cyl genes and agg are plasmidic, in most isolates, they were detected on the chromosome of five strains, suggesting that these Enterococci may harbour a pathogenicity island. Beyond the widespread nature of virulence traits, chromosomal integration of virulence genes seems to occur in different enterococcal species and isolates from non-clinical sources.

P963 Identification of Salmonella serotypes in sheep by PCR T. Zahraei-Salehi Tehran, IR Introduction: Salmonella abortusovis, S. dublin, S. montevideo and S. typhimurium are more common serotypes in sheep. One way of transferring of contamination is from visceral organs specially gallbladder, intestine and liver, which can be transferred from meat to human. Because of this, this research was essential to consider about it. Objectives: (1) Isolation of Salmonella serotypes from visceral organs of sheep and goats. (2) Detection of invA gene in isolated serotypes by PCR. Materials and methods: For these goals, samples from 96 livers, 86 gallbladders, 110 mesenteric lymph nodes and 10 faeces (totally 302 samples) were taken, and then cultured in enrichment and selective media. Doubtful colonies were selected and transferred to TSI agar, urea agar, SIM, MR-VP broth and nitrate broth. PCR reaction was carried out in Master cycle (Eppendorf). For DNA extraction isolated Salmonella serotypes was cultured in LB broth for 24 h at 37 C. LB broth (200 lL) was boiled for 10 min and centrifuged at 6000Âg for 3 min. A total of 1.5 lL of the supernatant was used for amplification by PCR with Salmonella-specific (139 and 141) primers. Results: Three Salmonella serotypes were isolated from mesenteric lymph nodes (two cases) and gallbladder (one case). Serotyping test showed that two of them belong to group B and one of them to group D of Salmonella. When subjected to Salmonellaspecific primer invA, all isolates, including positive control, generated a single 284-bp amplified DNA fragment, on 1.5% agarose gel. Conclusion: Salmonella-specific PCR with primer set invA is rapid, Sensitive, and reliable for detection of Salmonella in many clinical samples. The present research supports the ability of this specific primer set to confirm the isolates as Salmonella. All isolates, including positive controls (S. typhimurium and S. dublin), screened by PCR resulted in 284-bp amplified product. No amplified products were obtained from negative controls (water and O2K12 Escherichia coli serotype).

Objectives: The variability of Salmonella typhimurium strains was studied by PCR-based methods. Methods: 28 strains of S. typhimurium were isolated from food or animal sources in the course of surveillance programmes. Strains were phagotyped and their antibiotic resistance was determined by disk diffusion method. Fluorescent AFLP was done using Eco-RI and MseI enzymes and AFLP products were separated by capillary electrophoresis. Results: The presence of integrons was analysed in all 28 strains of S. typhimurium and three different integron profiles (IPs) were detected by amplification of variable region of the integrons. The IP-1 profile, characterised by two PCR products of 1.0 and 1.2 kb, was present in six strains. All these strains were multiresistant with resistance ACSSuT or ACSSuTNa. The IP-2 profile contained single 1.6 kb PCR product and was present in six strains resistant to ASuTmp or ASSuTmp. The dhfrA1 gene was confirmed to be an integral part of IP-2 integron. A total of 0.2 kb PCR product (IP-3) was amplified in two strains sensitive to all antimicrobials. As lysogenic bacteriopahges could frequently transfer their DNA into the bacterial cell and thus change chromosomal composition, phage-related sequences were probed in S. typhimurium strains by PCR with primers complementary to four genes of phage P22 (g8, g13, eae, eac). Three different types of PCR products were detected in multiplex reaction: the presence of g8 sequence only, the simultaneous occurrence of g8 and eac or presence of g8 and g13. Nine strains did not contain any from the tested phagerelated genes. The relatedness between strains was further monitored by AFLP. We observed high strain-to-strain similarity as Dice coefficients fell in the range of 94-100%. According to the presence of several DNA fragments, strains were separated into eight AFLP clusters. Conclusions: By comparison of all methods we obtained corresponding results in strain clustering. All methods can be used for subtyping of S. typhimurium strains.

producing Klebsiella strains isolated from nosocomial infections K. Matusiewicz, B. Maczynska, D. Olejniczak, A. Przondo-Mordarska, R. Franiczek Wroclaw, PL Objectives: Klebsiella bacilli present many pathogenic properties, which determine their ability to survive and rapid spreading in hospital environment. The adhesive properties of Klebsiella bacilli associated with the presence of fimbrial and non-fimbrial adhesins play a very important role in pathogenicity of these bacteria. Rapid spread of patogenical factors is often connected with presence of their plasmid-mediated genes. The aim of our study was to detect plasmid and chromosomally born fimH and mrkD genes encoding main adhesins: MS and MR, respectively. Methods: A total of 55 Klebsiella clinical isolates obtained from patients hospitalised in different hospital wards were studied. The phenotypic activity of fimbriae was characterised by haemagglutination method. The genomic and plasmid DNA were isolated using manual method as well as Qiagen DNA kits. The presence of genes encoding main adhesins were detected using PCR-method with primers detected fimH and mrkD genes Results: 40% of strains displayed phenotypic activity of both type 1 and type 3 fimbriae, 25.5% showed only activity of type 1 fimbriae, 30.9% only of 3 type fimbriae and 3.6% strains showed the lack of hemagglutination activity. The percentage of detected genes using PCR, was higher then showed results of phenotypic activity. The presence of mrkD genes was detected in 100% investigated strains in chromosomal DNA and 85.4% showed both mrkD and fimH genes. A total of 5.5% strains demonstrated only fimH genes in chromosomal DNA and 3.6% strains showed no genes. In plasmid DNA, the presence of main adhesin genes confirmed in 33% Klebsiella strains (mrkD genes in 20% strains, both fimH and mrkD in 9% and only fimH in 4% strains). Conclusions: The presence of fimH and mrkD genes in genomic and plasmid DNA not always leads to phenotypic expression of fimbrial adhesins. The activity of type 3 fimbriae is connected with chromosomal variant of mrkD gene. In case of fimH genes, the plasmid variant is enough for haemagglutination activity of type 1 fimbriae. The percentage of detected fimH and mrkD plasmid genes depended on hospital units from which these strains were isolated. This suggests the spread of plasmid-encoded adhesins among Klebsiella strains. Objectives: Bacteria of the genus Klebsiella are opportunistic pathogens responsible for an increasing number of multiresistant infections in hospitals. The two clinically and epidemiologically most important species, Klebsiella pneumoniae and K. oxytoca, have recently been shown to be subdivided into three and two respective phylogenetic groups. The aim of this study was in-depth evaluation of the amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) genetic characterisation method. Methods: First, we investigated the variability of AFLP patterns for Klebsiella strains within and between different outbreaks. Second, by use of carefully characterised, phylogenetically representative strains, we examined whether different Klebsiella species and phylogenetic groups can be discriminated using AFLP.

Twenty-four strains originating from seven presumed outbreaks and 31 non-associated strains were investigated. Results: The AFLP fingerprints of all epidemiologically associated strains showed three or fewer fragment differences, whereas unrelated strains differed by at least four fragments. Cluster analysis of the AFLP data revealed a very high concordance with the phylogenetic assignation of strains based on gyrA sequence and ribotyping data. The species K. pneumoniae, K. oxytoca, K. terrigena and the possibly synonymous pair K. planticola/K. ornithinolytica each formed a separate cluster. Similarly, strains of the phylogenetic groups of K. pneumoniae and K. oxytoca fell into their corresponding cluster, with only two exceptions. Conclusion: This study provides a preliminary cut-off value for distinguishing epidemiologically non-related Klebsiella isolates based on AFLP data, confirms the sharp delineation of the recently identified phylogenetic groups and demonstrates that AFLP is suitable for identification of Klebsiella species and phylogenetic groups. Objectives: K-serotyping, i.e. determination of the capsular antigen, has been the preferred typing method for Klebsiella isolates, as it is highly discriminatory (77-types are known) and as K-types are known to differ in their pathogenic potential. Unfortunately, K-serotyping requires a large collection of sera and is restricted to a few reference centres. Moreover, K-serotyping suffers from cross-reactions and is not applicable to non-capsulated strains. The objective of this work was to develop a molecular method that would enable to determine the K-serotype without using antiserum. Methods: We amplified by PCR the capsular antigen gene cluster (cps) and the PCR product (10-18 kb long) was digested with HincII, followed by agarose gel electrophoresis (cps PCR-RFLP). Results: The profiles (called C-patterns) obtained for 228 strains representing the 77 known K-serotypes showed four to 13 bands in the size range 0.2-4.361 kb. A total of 128 distinct C-patterns were obtained. The following important observations were made: (i) The C-patterns obtained for strains of any K-serotype were distinct from the C-pattern of all other K-serotypes, with the only exception of serotypes K22 and K37, which are known to cross-react. (ii) For 12 K-types, C-pattern variation was found among strains with the same K-serotype; in most cases, the strains with variant C-patterns belonged to other Klebsiella species than the reference strain. Thus, cps PCR-RFLP has a higher discriminatory power than classical K-serotyping. (iii) Within K. pneumoniae, we observed C-pattern identity among strains of a given K-type, for example K1 or K3, that were collected many years apart and from distinct sources. This stability of the C-pattern indicates that cps PCR-RFLP is suitable for long-term epidemiology of capsular types. (iv) Only 2.8% (compared with 8-23% for classical K-serotyping) of the strains analysed by cps PCR-RFLP were non-typable, because PCR amplification failed. (v) The value of cps PCR-RFLP for K-serotype determination was tested on 21 recent K. pneumoniae clinical isolates. The K-serotype of 18 (86%) of them could be deduced from the comparison of their C-pattern with the database. (vi) Four of five non-capsulated strains analysed showed a recognisable C-pattern. Conclusions: cps PCR-RFLP allows determination of the K-serotype, while being easier to perform and more discriminatory than classical serotyping, and allowing the characterisation of non-capsulated strains. (1) The composition of the vaginal microbial community of eight of these vaginal swabs (three grade I, two grade II and three grade III), were studied by culture and by cloning of the 16S rRNA genes obtained after direct amplification.

(2) Species-specific PCR for Atopobium vaginae and Gardnerella vaginalis was carried out for all 150 vaginal swab samples. (3) Forty-six cultured isolates were identified by tDNA-PCR and 854 cloned 16S rRNA gene fragments were sequenced, yielding a total of 38 species. Results: Cloning revealed that A. vaginae was abundant in four out of the five non-grade I specimens and that Lactobacillus iners was the only Lactobacillus species that was present in non-grade I specimens, while it was absent from grade I samples. Respectively 1.8% (grade I), 15.7% (grade II) and 77.7% (grade III) of the vaginal swab samples were positive for both A. vaginae and G. vaginalis species-specific PCR (P < 0Á001, chi square). Discussion: Culture independent, molecular analysis revealed a higher microbial diversity in non-grade I specimens than did culture. Together, culture, 16S rRNA gene cloning and species-specific PCR point to the presence of nine presumptively novel bacterial species and to a strong association between A. vaginae, G. vaginalis and bacterial vaginosis and to an ambiguous role for L. iners. It appears as if A. vaginae may be a constituent -in low numbers -of the human vagina, possibly attaining replicative dominance in association with decreasing lactobacillary grading. The presence of A. vaginae in bacterial vaginosis(-like) microflora may shed new light on the aetiology of this condition. Using multilocus PCR tests with various primers in the genomes of 186 strains isolated in the territories of Russia and Turkmenistan we were able to detect three housekeeping genes (hapA, toxR, rtxA) and nine virulence genes located in prophages and 'pathogenicity' and 'persistence' islands: CTXphi (ctxA, zot, ace), RS1phi (rstC), VPI (tcpA, aldA, toxT), VPI-2 (nanH), EPI (mshQ). Besides, we used the methods of ribotyping and PCR typing which involved the 'random' primer, 1281, to elucidate genetical relationship between the strains of varying epidemic significance. The genome of clinical isolates obtained from patients during several epidemic outbreaks, was shown to be stable and to contain all the genes tested. C. vibrios isolated during the interepidemic period from natural ecosystems, formed a heterogenous population represented by single virulent clones that had retained the complete set of the genes under study, by non-toxinogenic strains, that had lost only individual genes and (or) pathogenicity blocks of genes, i.e. either CTXphi and RS1phi, or CTXphi, VPI and RS1phi, or by those carrying deficient prophages CTXphi (ctxAÀ zot+ ace+) and VPI (ctpAÀ aldA+ toxT+), as well as by clones containing only housekeeping chromosomal genes and sometimes a gene from the 'persistence island'. As soon as virulent clones get into water environment, they lose their virulence blocks in the following order: CTXphi and RS1phi, then VPI, gene VPI-2 being the last one to be lost. In conformity with the results of the above three genotyping methods, epidemically hazardous strains, represented a homogenous group, suggesting a single clonal origin. Close genetical relationship between these strains and non-toxinogenic vibrios, that partly retained their virulence genes, was also established. At the same time, as shown by ribotyping and PCR typing studies, avirulent 'water' vibrios formed an independent group, because their genotypes manifested quite distinct features, in contrast to the first two vibrio groups. Thus, the observed genotype heterogeneity of El Tor cholera vibrios living in water ecosystems was likely to be a result of the loss of DNA fragments varying in their length and functions. The genotyping procedures used in the work made it possible to discover evolutional relationships among the bacterial strains under study. Bacteroides fragilis Gram-negative anaerobic rods, 132 strains isolated in Poland and 53 in France (from intestinal and extraintestinal sources) were compared in this study. The identification of bacterial strains was done on the basis of Gram staining, growth on selective BBE (Bacteroides Bile Esculine) medium, and biochemical characteristics determined by the API 20 A test (bioMérieux, France). For assessment of the presence of enterotoxin (fragilysin) gene in analysed strains, the PCR method was used. DNA for PCR was isolated using Genomic DNA PREP PLUS (A&A Biotechnology, Poland) and amplification was performed in a Techne thermocycler with primers 404 (5¢-GAG CCG AAG ACG GTG TAT GTG ATT TGT-3¢-TGC TCA GCG CCC AGT ATA TGA CCT AGT-3¢). The PCR program consisted of the following steps: 94°C for 4 min, 40 cycles of 94 C (1 min), 52 C (1 min) and 74 C (1 min). Among the Polish 132 strains, 16 contained the fragilysin gene. Of the 53 French strains 10 contained the fragilysin gene. For all these strains, pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed. Bacteria were suspended in SE buffer (75 mM NaCl, 2.5 EDTA pH 8.0), embedded in 0.5% agarose plugs and lysed overnight at 55 C. Plugs were washed five times in SE at room temperature afterwards. DNA in the plugs was digested using Not I (Boehringer Mannheim, Germany). Electrophoresis was performed in a CHEF Mapper (BioRad, Venendaal, The Netherlands). The voltage was 10 V/cm for 18 h with linear ramping from 5 to 35 s at AE60 angles. In conclusion, 19% strains isolated in France and 15% of those isolated in Poland contained the fragilysin gene. The PFGE analysis revealed that strains isolated in Poland and in France show genetically differentiation (these strains are genetically not homogenous). Objectives: Different molecular mechanisms of resistance to azole antifungal agents, that can exist simultaneously, have been described in Candida albicans strains. One of these mechanisms includes alterations in the gene encoding the target enzyme ERG11. In the present study we used Pyrosequencing method to conduct an epidemiologic survey in Ketoconazole-susceptible and -resistant strains of clinical C. albicans strains isolated in our region, to determine differences in the gene encoding lanosteroldemethylase (ERG11).

Methods: The strains of C. albicans were obtained by swabbing the oral mucosa of subjects with oropharyngeal candidiasis. Susceptibility to Ketoconazole was tested using the broth microdilution method recommended by the NCCLS document M27-A. Concentrations of Ketoconazole tested were in the range 0.03-16 mg/mL. The MIC endpoint was defined as the lowest concentration at which 80% of growth was inhibited, compared with the drug-free control. Yeasts were grown in Sabouraud agar and DNA was extracted by using QIAamp DNA Mini Kit (Quiagen). PCR primers matched an ERG11 gene region of 178 bp. One of the primers of PCR fragment was biotinylated, a single strand of PCR products was obtained with streptavidin-coated beads method. Samples were analysed using a PSQ 96 System with SQA Software and SQA reagent. Results: A total of 31.2% of strains exhibited DDS or resistance to ketoconazole (MIC >0.25 lg/mL). The sequence analysis was designed to cover a region of the ERG11 gene including codons 464-483. Previous studies showed that in this region, the mutations G464S, G465S, R467K and I471T are associated with azole resistance in C. albicans. In our study the sensitive strains have shown no mutations. Among DDS and resistant strains, only the mutation G464S was found in two strains, while no mutations were demonstrated in the remaining isolates. Conclusion: This study is the first to use the Pyrosequencing system to characterise changes in nucleotide sequence of the ERG11 gene fragment involved in azole resistance of C. albicans strains. The observation of one point mutation in only two resistant strains tested suggests a limited role of the region of the ERG11 gene analysed in the azole resistance among C. albicans strains present in our region. However, the Pyrosequencing system has shown to be a fast and specific technique for detection of point mutations in the region of ERG11 gene of C. albicans strains.

Escherichia coli verocytotoxin 2 variants. Correlations to the clinical manifestations S. Persson, F. Scheutz, K.E.P. Olsen Copenhagen, DK Background: Verocytotoxin 2 (VT2) of verocytotoxin producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) is a potent toxin, capable of producing serious complication, when excreted from the bacteria colonising the intestinal tracts. The mature toxin is composed of one A-subunit and five identical B-subunits, and is encoded by the approximately 1240 bp vtx2AB operon. Based on the variable nucleic acid sequence of both subunits, several toxin variants have been identified. Objectives: The subtype designation, important sequence motifs and clinical significance of the vtx2 variants, are not consistent throughout the literature. To shed more light on these features, a novel typing method was developed for the investigation of subtype-specific correlations to the clinical outcome. Methods: The subtyping method relies on PCR and sequencing. By use of vtx2 universal primers, a 630-bp fragment covering the most variable regions of subunit A and B was amplified by PCR, and subsequently sequenced. Results and conclusion: The present method was used for the analysis of vtx2-positive strains from our strain collection, counting 274 strains, isolated from patients with known clinical manifestations (HUS, HC, bloody diarrhoea, diarrhoea, fever, etc.). Compared with traditional subtyping, our preliminary results indicate that most strains in our strain collection harbour the vtx2 or vtx2c subtype, in addition to a few strains containing the activatable carboxy-terminus of subunit A, referred to as vtx2d. Correlations between these subtypes and the clinical complications will be presented. Additionally, the novel sequences from our strain collection will be investigated for other sequence motifs connected to the clinical outcome. As sequencing has become more accessible and less expensive, we believe that this method, offers a good and reliable alternative for diagnostic subtyping of VTEC strains from these infections. P976 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 in Slovenia P. Zabukovnik, A. Andlovic, A. Zore Ljubljana, SI Objectives: In the Institute of Microbiology and Immunology (Department for bacterial diagnostics of diarrhoeal infections), Medical Faculty in Ljubljana, we wanted to introduce multiplex PCR test for detection of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Until recently we used only enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to detect production of Shiga toxin (STX) in specimens. Institute of Microbiology and Immunology has extensive collection of E. coli isolates from human faeces (mostly from hospitals in Ljubljana). We decided to test isolates in our collection from 1993 to 2002, with serogroup O157. We used multiplex PCR assay that amplified sequences in four virulence genes (Shiga toxin 1 (stx1), Shiga toxin 2 (stx2), intimin (eaeA), enterohemolysin (ehxA)). Methods: All isolates were serotyped with rabbit O antisera. We used multiplex PCR to detect presence of Shiga toxin 1, Shiga toxin 2 (and sub variants, but did not discriminate between them), intimin and enterohemolysin genes. We also tested those strains for production of STX with EIA. Results: We tested 20 E. coli isolates with serogroup O157 and found 10 STEC. stx2 and ehxA genes were present in almost all STEC O157 isolates. The most common PCR profile (five of 20) of O157 isolates had stx2, eaeA and ehxA genes. One isolate had stx2 gene but did not produce Shiga toxin (or possibly EIA did not detect produced Shiga toxin). Most of those 10 STEC O157 were isolated in summer months of July and August. Two O157 STEC were isolated in the year 1997 shortly one after another. They had identical multiplex PCR profile. The same happened in the year 2002. Conclusion: We notice increase in the number of STEC O157 isolates per year in years after 1997. This may be because of use of better diagnostic methods. In last years STEC O157 with PCR profile stx2, eaeA and ehxA is dominant. In years 1993 to 1998 the dominant PCR profile had stx1, stx2, eaeA and ehxA genes. Background: Chronic prostatitis is recognised to be caused by infectious and non-infectious prostatic inflammation as well as non-inflammatory diseases, but the separation of various prostatitis syndromes is difficult to perform. Bacterial prostatitis is a common diagnosis and a frequent indication for antimicrobial therapy. However, confirmation of aetiology of inflammation is exceedingly uncommon. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and aetiology of chronic bacterial prostatitis among the patients with clinically confirmed diagnosis. Methods: Between October 2002 and October 2003 the patients with suspected prostatitis were examined. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed in patients within 3 months or greater duration of the following signs and symptoms: perineal discomfort, pain following ejaculation, urinary frequency, urgency, dysuria, low back pain, suprapubic pain, palpation of a tender prostate on physical examination. The bacteriological diagnosis was determined in patients, who had not been taking antibiotics in the previous month, by Meares and Stamey technique. Prostatitis was categorised according to NIH classification. Results: A total of 129 patients were examined. Chronic bacterial prostatitis (NIH category II) was found in nine patients (7.0%), inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome (NIH category IIIa) -in 59 (45.7%), non-inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome (NIH category IIIb) -in 61 (47.3%). The following pathogens were isolated in NIH Category II: Staphylococcus spp. -in three (33.3%), anaerobic bacteria (Prevotella spp., Prevotella spp. and Peptostreptococcus spp.) -in three (33.3%), Escherichia coli -in two patients (22.2%), Acinetobacter lwoffii -in one (11.1%). Conclusions: Chronic bacterial prostatitis is an important but rare clinical entity. Careful examination using quantitative segmented bacteriologic cultures leads to proper categorisation into the recognised forms of the prostatic syndrome. The most common pathogens of chronic bacterial prostatitis were Staphylococcus spp., anaerobic bacteria (Prevotella spp. and Peptostreptococcus spp.) and E. coli. Objectives: A prospective multicenter urology outpatient survey, undertaken to examine prostatitis in Italy, is used to compare the prevalence, characterisation, diagnosis and treatment of prostatitis patient with the North American (NA) prostatitis patient. Methods and materials: Seventy urologists, representing a crosssection of urologic centres in Italy, counted and recorded the overall total male patients reported in the clinic and the overall total patients diagnosed with prostatitis over a 5-week period. Results were compared with published practice prevalence and cohort data (in particular the NIH Chronic Prostatitis Cohort Study -CPC and Seattle Prostatitis cohorts) examining similar data in NA. Results: A total of 1148 patients were identified with prostatitis (12.8%). The mean age of the prostatitis patients was 47.1 (range 16-83). The most common urinary diseases were benign prostatic hyperplasia (17.4%), recurrent urinary tract infections (11.2%) and urinary calculogenesis (11.1%), while the most common concurrent diseases were diabetes (7.2%) and depression (6.8%). The most frequently reported and most severe symptoms at time of evaluation were irritative voiding symptoms, perineal and suprapubic pain and discomfort. Over three quarters of the patients were dissatisfied with their quality of life. Bacteria were cultured in 15.6, 17.7 and 14.0% of EPS, VB3 and semen specimens, respectively. Comparison to NA data suggests that the European prostatitis patient and the European urologists' approach to the diagnosis and treatment of prostatitis are not that dissimilar to prevalence and management of prostatitis in NA. Conclusion: Prostatitis is a common worldwide outpatient diagnosis, comprising a significant percentage of male outpatient visits to urologists in both Europe and NA. The similarities in prevalence, characterisation and management of the typical prostatitis suggests that an international collaborative research effort is indicated in this important urological condition. observation unit for <24 h. before discharge (7.0%) or admitted (38.3%). The two factors that significantly correlate to hospital admission were the severity of UTI (53% of complicated AC, 34% of AUP, 80% of complicated AP and 57.3% of acute prostatitis) and patients' age (76.2 AE 17.9 years in those admitted with complicated AC vs. 48.8 AE 24.9 years in the non-admitted, 44. 2002) . Demographic factors, underlying conditions, symptoms and signs, laboratory, radiological and microbiological data, antimicrobial therapy, outcome and final diagnosis were evaluated. Results are expressed by percentages or median as appropriate.

Results: Median age was 86 years, 50% were female and 56% were nursing home residents. Seventy-four per cent were dependent for activities of daily living, 22% had a permanent urinary catheter and 58% had cognitive impairment. The most frequent symptoms were fever (72%), decline in function (54%) and dyspnoea (50%); only 7% referred dysuria. Stupor (46%), crackles (40%) and ronchi (34%) were the commonest signs. Leucocytosis (14065/uL), elevated urea (64 mg/dL), respiratory failure (59%) and high C-reactive protein (142 mg/L) were the main laboratory abnormalities. Pyuria was observed in 71%, chest X-ray showed a pulmonary infiltrate in 48%, and 52% of cases fulfilled criteria of severe sepsis. Blood and urine cultures were positive in 18 and 52% of patients, respectively; gramnegative bacilli (GNB) were found in 82% of positive cultures, Escherichia coli being the most common agent. No pneumococci were isolated either in blood or sputum. Amoxicillin-clavulanate was the antimicrobial therapy most frequently administered (51%). Median hospital stay and mortality were 6 days and 27% respectively. Urinary tract infection was the commonest final diagnosis (61%). Conclusion: Respiratory manifestations predominate in disabled old patients with GNB severe urinary sepsis initially diagnosed as SUARI. Respiratory distress may underlie this presentation. Further studies are required to support this contention.

Enterococcus in patients hospitalised through the emergency department D. Raveh, I. Rosenzweig, B. Rudensky, A.M. Yinnon Jerusalem, IL Objectives: To determine the incidence of, and risk factors for, isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Enterococcus from urine cultures obtained from patients in the emergency department (ED). Methods: One year prospective, non-interventional study of all urine specimens collected in the ED, out of which one organism was isolated at a concentration of >100 000 CFU/mL. In this study were included all patients with P. aeruginosa or Enterococcus bacteriuria (study patients), and control patients with Escherichia coli bacteriuria subsequently hospitalised, at a ratio of two controls for each study case. Patients were interviewed with a structured questionnaire and charts were reviewed for demographic, clinical and laboratory indicators of Enterococcus or Pseudomonas bacteriuria as compared with E. coli bacteriuria. Results: Over the 1-year study period, 744 positive urine samples were obtained from ED patients: 610 (82%) Enterobacteriaceae (including 476 isolates of E. coli) and 134 (18%) other organisms, of which 39 (5%) were P. aeruginosa and 28 Enterococcus (4%). Comparison with a randomly chosen control cohort of 80 patients with E. coli bacteriuria revealed several indicators for Pseudomonas bacteriuria, including male gender (odds ratio 3.3, 95%CI 1.5-7.2, P < 0.005), presence of a permanent urinary catheter (OR 15.4, 95%CI 2.2-140, P < 0.005), past prostatectomy (OR 13.4, 95% CI 1.5-315, P < 0.01), hospitalisation in the previous 2 months (OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.5-4.9, P < 0.005), and pregnancy (OR 2.8, 95%CI 2.1-3.6, P < 0.05). In addition, both Enterococcus and Pseudomonas, as compared with E. coli, significantly more often indicated asymptomatic bacteriuria in patients with other diagnoses, as opposed to clinically manifest bacteriuria, than isolation of E. coli (OR 4.2, 95%CI 1.2-14.4, P < 0.05). Conclusions: Pseudomonas (5%) and Enterococcus (4%) are isolated from a significant minority of urine samples obtained from ED patients with clinically suspected bacterial infection. Isolation of these organisms, as compared with E. coli, more often indicates asymptomatic bacteriuria in patients with other infectious disease diagnoses. In addition, several independent clinical indicators for Pseudomonas bacteriuria were identified. These data may assist in selecting optimal antibiotic treatment for patients admitted with suspected urinary tract infection. Objectives: Certain virulence factors (VF), particularly pap fimbriae, are able to trigger production of cytokines, especially through activation of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4), and therefore produce inflammation. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of certain VF in the degree of inflammation in febrile urinary tract infections (FUTI). Methods: From 2002 to 2003 adult patients with febrile community acquired FUTI (81 female with acute pyelonephritis (mean age 50 (SD ¼ 22)) and 36 acute prostatitis (mean age 60 (SD ¼ 16)) caused by Escherichia coli were prospectively included. Levels of C reactive proteins (CRP), white blood cell count (WBCC) and days until apirexia after beginning antibiotic treatment were recorded in all patients and considered as indirect markers of inflammation. Genes encoding haemolysin, type 1 fimbriae, pap G fimbriae, cytotoxic necrotising factor, aerobactin and autotransporter toxin were detected by a PCR. Additionally expression of type 1 fimbriae and haemolysin were detected by agglutination and growth on blood agar. Results: Strains carrying pap G fimbriae were involved in FUTI with higher CRP levels than pap G fimbriae negative strains (14.95 vs. 10.51; P ¼ 0.028). The relation between the rest of VF and CRP levels did not reach statistical significance. No differences were found regarding the WBCC and the duration of the fever. Conclusions: These data indirectly suggest that the degree of inflammation in FUTI caused by E. coli is associated with the presence of pap G fimbriae, which is coherent with the fact that pap G fimbriae are coreceptors of TLR4.

Mycology: candida and aspergillosis P986 Initiation of an active surveillance programme on yeast-related bloodstream infections in France (ASPYRIF)

An active surveillance program has been implemented in France to prospectively analyse yeast-related blood stream infections. A pilot study was conducted from 1 October 2002 through 30 September 2003 in 23 medical centres in Paris and suburbs. For each patient, one isolate of each identified species was sent to the NRCM together with clinical data filled on a standard form. Identification was confirmed using phenotyping tests and a PCR assay was performed on all Candida albicans isolates to identify C. dubliniensis. Antifungal susceptibility testing to amphotericin B, flucytosine, fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole and caspofungin was performed according to EU-CAST recommendations. The median age of the 282 patients was 57 years [0-94 years], with a male predominance (59%). Underlying factors for yeast-related blood stream infections were often multiple for a given patient dominated by recent surgery (69%), central venous catheter (66%), hospitalisation in intensive care unit (53%), malignancy (42%), immunosuppressive therapy (28%), HIV infection (10%), solid organ (6%) or bone marrow (3%) transplantation and prosthetic devices (6%). Overall, the mortality rate was high with 43% of deaths within 30 days after the first positive blood culture. Candida spp. was the most frequent genus (96%) with C. albicans (49%), C. glabrata (14%), C. parapsilosis (13%) and C. tropicalis (10%) being the most frequent species isolated. Other Candida were recovered below 3% (C. krusei, C. kefyr, C. lusitaniae). Non-Candida spp. were Trichosporon asahii, T. mucoides, Geotrichum capitatum and Cryptococcus neoformans. Our data show that the percentage of nonalbicans species equal that of C. albicans among the yeasts recovered during fungaemia. The proportion of the four major species differed significantly according to the presence of central venous catheter (P ¼ 0.02). Analysis of the antifungal susceptibility testing results revealed that most of the isolates had usual antifungal susceptibility profiles. In conclusion, ASPYRIF is a powerful tool that should allow us to accurately describe the epidemiology of yeast-related blood stream infec-tions in France without restriction to any underlying disease or species. Background: Nosocomial candidaemia is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in the critically ill. Emergence of fluconazole resistance raises further problems, but the newer antifungal drugs [voriconazole, caspofungin, ambisome and abelcet] offer alternative therapeutic options. They also raise the issue of treatment-associated costs. An 8-year [1996 to November 2003 clinical audit was conducted across two tertiary care hospitals [Western Infirmary and Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow] . The distribution of Candida species and fluconazole/itraconazole resistance, with emphasis on high-risk areas was studied. It also addresses the newer antifungal options, cost implications and patient risk-stratification approach. Objectives: To evaluate the outcome and complications in patients with candidaemia treated with antifungals. To identify the most common Candida species isolated in the VAMC patients with Candida and evaluate the risk factors and epidemiological data of the patients. Methods: All patients admitted in the VAMC from August 1995 to August 2002 with blood cultures positive for Candida were included in this study. Epidemiological data, medical history, risk factors, co-morbid diseases and laboratory results were evaluated in record review. Candida species were identified to determine the prevalence of Candida species in the VAMC. The patients were assigned to three different groups according to the therapeutic regime provided to the patient by the primary physician. Outcome and complications including nephrotoxicity, electrolytes disturbances and hepatotoxicity were evaluated in each therapeutic group. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS (Statistical Package or Social Science). A regression model was used for the analysis of risk factors associated with mortality in patients with candidaemia. Results: One hundred and seven patients were randomised in the study. C. tropicalis was the most commonly isolated Candida species 45%, followed by C. albicans 31%. Mortality rate is high 73%, especially in those patients infected with C. tropicalis and C. glabrata 88% (P ¼ 0.01). The mortality rate increased to 81.4% if no treatment was given (P < 0.0001) and was worse if C. tropicalis was isolated and not treated 92%. The patients treated had a similar mortality rate irrespective of the administered agent, Amphotericin (64%), Abelcet (60%) and Diflucan (60%), but was worse in those patients admitted to an ICU, Amphotericin (86.6%), Abelcet (60%) and Diflucan 71.4% (P < 0.0001). Response rate in the patients infected with C. albicans was 38.7 vs. 9% in patients with C. tropicalis. Nephrotoxicity developed in 54% of patients and no difference was found in those patients treated with Amphotericin B vs. Abelcet. Conclusion: Candidaemia has been increasing in frequency. C. tropicalis is the most commonly isolated Candida species in our institution. Candidaemia has a high mortality rate and is worse if C. tropicalis is isolated and the patient is admitted to an ICU and no treatment is given. There is no difference in response rate within the different therapeutic options. Nephrotoxicity is higher in patients treated with Amphotericin irrespective of the formulations administered. Background: Invasive candidaemia is a life-threatening complication occurring especially in hospitalised cancer patients due to surgical operation and application of aggravating chemotherapy. Candida colonisation, dysfunction of humoral and cellular immune system and prolonged periods of hospitalisation are considered to be the risk factors of invasive candidaemia development. Early diagnosis and evaluation of the risk factors are still a major challenge. Objectives: The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between the rate of Candida colonisation, disorders in immune responses (associated with adverse changes in concentration of TNF-alpha, IL-12, and myeloperoxidase) and development of invasive candidaemia in hospitalised cancer patients.

Methods: Study group included 78 patients with lung cancer admitted for surgical operation and 31 women with carcinoma ovariorum after the third course of treatment with taxol and cisplatin. Patients were examined for fungal colonisation of mucosal membranes with culture methods. Presence of Candida antigens and DNA of the pathogen in the bloodstream was determined with ELISA and PCR assay, respectively. Cytokine and myeloperoxidase concentration in serum of the patients was specified with ELISA commercial kits. Results: The study revealed that 43 (39%) lung cancer patients were colonised with Candida in nosepharynx before the operation. Pneumonia and wound infections were observed in 15 patients of this group, Candida albicans was isolated as the only pathogen from three patients colonised previously with Candida. In case of patient group with ovariorum carcinoma, colonisation with Candida of two or three sites was demonstrated in five (15%) of 31 women. The Candida antigen was present in blood in four of them; positive PCR result was found in blood sample collected from one of them. Significant relationships between Candida colonisation or infection and myeloperoxidase concentration were found (5.9-13.1 vs. 170 ng/mL in healthy persons). Conclusions: High rate of Candida colonisation and drastic decrease in myeloperoxidase serum concentration in patients with lung and ovariorum cancer are predisposing risk factors for invasive Candida infection. Detection of Candida antigens and DNA of the pathogen may improve early diagnosis of the candidosis.

P990 Evaluation of BacT/ALERT 3D system to diagnose bloodstream infections due to yeasts P992 Effect of voriconazole on ergosterol content of

S. Costa-de-Oliveira, C. Pina-Vaz, E. Pinto, A. Oliveira, C. Tavares, A. Gonc¸alves Rodrigues Porto, P Voriconazole (Vor) is a new azole antifungal agent with a similar structure to fluconazole (Flu). As with other azoles, its primary mechanism of action is through disrupting the normal sterol biosynthetic pathway, leading to a reduction in ergosterol content (1). Nevertheless Vor is more potent against most Candida spp., and shows a wide spectrum of activity. Thus Candida krusei, which is intrinsically resistant to fluconazole (by unknown mechanism), shows low MIC values to Vor. This lack of cross-resistance and the fact of being fungicidal to some fungi suggest a distinct mechanism of action. Objective: To study the effect of Vor on the amount of ergosterol of C. krusei strains, in comparison with Flu. Methods: The MIC to Vor was determined according to the NCCLS protocol M27-A on 24 strains of C. krusei, all resistant to Flu (MIC ! 64 lg/mL). Ergosterol was isolated from C. krusei cells by saponification and the non-saponifiable lipids were extrac-ted with heptane. Ergosterol was identified by its spectrophotometric absorbance profile (240-300 nm) (2). A quantification of ergosterol was determined after incubation with and without both azoles at MIC and sub-inhibitory concentrations. Results: In all the strains, MIC to Vor ranged between 0.125 and 0.5 ug/mL. All C. krusei have a significant amount of ergosterol, with no significant differences among the strains. After incubation with MIC concentrations of Vor an 80-100% reduction of the ergosterol content was observed. A similar effect was obtained with fluconazole but only with highest concentrations (64 ug/ mL). Conclusion: The Vor induces a considerable impairment on the biosynthesis of ergosterol by C. krusei strains. It is much more potent inhibitor of ergosterol biosynthesis than Flu.

Background: Mycotic infections of hospitalised patients are emerging as a significant public health issue. Numerous studies have shown that candidaemia is associated with a significant attributable mortality and prolonged hospital stay, but only a few reports analyse the incidence of Candida spp. in wounds. Objective: To analyse the species distribution and antifungal susceptibility of Candida infection in wounds in our hospital during a 6-year period (1997-2002) . Methods: The in vitro activities of amphotericin B (AB), fluconazole (FZ), itraconazole (IZ), ketoconazole (KZ) and flucytosine were determined by the broth microdilution method following NCCLS criteria. MICs were visually determined after 24 and 48 h incubation at 35 C Results: From 1997 to 2002 we processed 18 573 wound samples in our laboratory. Of these, 14 060 (75.7%) were positive, 13 413 (95.4%) showed bacterial growth without Candida and 647 (4.6%) with Candida. The rate of isolation of Candida in wounds/year was as follows: 1997 (2.7%), 1998 (3.7%), 1999 (4.8%), 2000 (4.3%), 2001 (6.3%) and 2002 (5.7%). Globally, Candida albicans was the most frequently isolated species per patient (296; 57.9%), followed by C. parapsilosis (71; 13.9%), C. glabrata (40; 7.8%) and C. tropicalis (37; 7.2%). The trends in species distribution were similar in both the adult and paediatric population. The evolution in the successive years of wounds with more than one species of Candida was as follows: 2/59, 8/94, 8/97, 4/92, 16/163 and 16/ 142 . Overall, the percentages of resistance of Candida spp. isolated were: AB (4.6%), FZ (10.2%), IZ (17%), KZ (12.5%) and FC (2.3%). Conclusion: Our study shows an increasing presence of Candida spp. among the wound isolates in the microbiology laboratory. A high proportion is due to species other than C. albicans and it can be probably attributed to the increase in antibiotic burden in our hospital. infants were performed to estimate disease burden, short-term outcome and microbiological characteristics of causative organisms. Methods: Prospective enhanced surveillance of invasive fungal infections in VLBW (<1500 g) infants began in February 2003, with cases defined as meeting of one or more of the following diagnostic criteria: (1) culture from a sterile site -CSF, blood (peripheral sample), urine (supra-pubic aspirate or in-out catheter sample), bone/joint, peritoneal or pleural space; (2) pathognomonic findings on ophthalmological examination; (3) pathognomonic findings on renal ultrasound examination; and (4) autopsy diagnosis of invasive fungal infection. Cases were identified through three separate surveillance schemes: monthly notifications from paediatricians to the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit; continuous reports from microbiology laboratories to the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (England) and Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health (Scotland). Reports from the three systems were reconciled and analysed. Rates were calculated using Office for National Statistics total live birth estimates. Results: Between February and July, 38 confirmed cases of invasive fungal infection in VLBW infants were reported, 10.02/1000 births of VLBW. Median age at diagnosis was 11 days (range 1-126) and birth weight 800 (520-1200) g. Thirty-four of the 38 infants were of extremely low birth weight (<1000 g). Candida albicans was the most common pathogen, found in 55% of cases, and C. parapsilosis in 23%. Organisms were most commonly isolated from blood (73%), followed by urine (23%), CSF (8%) and central line tips (53%). Just over a third of cases (36%) had received prophylactic antifungal therapy. One case of drug resistance was identified during this period (fluconazole resistance in a non-albicans Candida spp.). Of the 32 infants for whom outcome data were available, 22 were alive at 37 weeks post-conceptional age. Conclusion: Preliminary findings from enhanced surveillance suggest an incidence of invasive mycoses in VLBW infants of one in 100. As per adult cases, C. albicans was the most common fungal pathogen involved, although C. parapsilosis was relatively more common than in adults. The majority of cases occurred in extremely low birth weight infants, and mortality was found to be high. Methods: Surveillance swabs of throat and rectum were taken on admission and twice weekly afterwards. Diagnostic samples were obtained on clinical indication. All samples were processed using standard mycological techniques. Overgrowth was defined as !3+ or !1 000 000 yeast cells/mL of saliva and/or gram of faeces. Carriage index is the ratio of the sum of all semi-quantitative growth densities of positive surveillance swabs divided by the total number of swabs; on a particular sampling day. Oral polyenes were started following the identification of the carrier state. Results: A total of 1241 children requiring minimally 4 days of ventilation were enrolled in this 4-year observational, prospective study [01/03/99 to 28/02/03]. The median paediatric index of mortality was 0.06 [IQR 0.02-0.13], and the actual mortality was 9.6%. Enteral polyenes as part of selective digestive decontamination [SDD] were administered to half of the study population [53%] . The median length of stay was 8 days Objective: Candida dubliniensis is a newly described pathogenic species, first isolated from HIV-infected patients with oropharyngeal candidiasis. It shares many phenotypic features with C. albicans, including the ability to form germ tubes and chlamydospores. These similarities have caused significant problems in its differentiation from C. albicans in routine clinical microbiology laboratories. This study reports isolation and identification of C. dubliniensis for the first time from Kuwait and presents data on antifungal susceptibility profile. Methods: Over a period of 21 months, 800 germ-tube positive yeasts identified as C. albicans and recovered from different clinical specimens were screened for their ability to grow at 45 C on Sabouraud dextrose agar. Isolates which failed to grow at 45 C were presumptively identified as C. dubliniensis. The identity of C. dubliniensis isolates was further confirmed by formation of rough colonies and chlamydospores on sunflower seed agar, by Vitek 2 system, and by semi-nested PCR using species-specific primers corresponding to unique sequences within the internally transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) of C. dubliniensis and by direct sequencing of ITS2. The antifungal susceptibility testing was performed on RPMI 1640 medium as recommended in NCCLS, M27A document. Results: Of the 800 germ tube positive yeast isolates, 27 (3.3%) were identified as C. dubliniensis. They were isolated from sputum (n ¼ 12), vaginal swabs (n ¼ 5), endotracheal secretion (n ¼ 3), throat swabs (n ¼ 2), urine (n ¼ 2) and one each from bronchoalveolar lavage, catheter tip and peritoneal fluid. None of the isolates originated from HIV-positive patients. All the C. dubliniensis isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole. However, 19% of the isolates were resistant to 5-flucytosine (>32 lg/mL) without any known previous exposure. Conclusion: Identification of C. dubliniensis from 3.3% of the yeast isolates in our study suggests that this species is not uncommon in Kuwait. There is a need to carry out a systematic study in high-risk patient groups to know its epidemiologic significance. Acknowledgement: The work is supported by Kuwait University Research grant MPI-118. Background: Fungaemia remains a severe nosocomial complication and the emergence of non-albicans species is posing new challenges both to clinicians and to microbiologists. Objective: To assess the incidence and clinical presentation of C. glabrata fungaemia, its susceptibility and its clinical outcome. Methods: From 1987 to 2001, we had 479 episodes of fungaemias and 37 cases corresponded to C. glabrata (7.7%). Thirty cases were six cirrhosis patients and 20 miscellaneous). Following the EORTC/MSG criteria, these patients were classified as proven IA (n ¼ 30), probable IA (n ¼ 37), possible IA (n ¼ 2) and 'colonisation' (n ¼ 20). Mean SAPS II score was 52 with a predicted mortality of 48.6%. Overall mortality was 80% (n ¼ 71). Mortality of the proven and probable group was 96.7 and 86.5%, respectively. Among the 18 patients who survived, 10 just had 'colonisation' with Aspergillus. Post-mortem examination in the non-haematooncological group was done in 46 out of the 71 patients who died (70%) and 29/46 autopsies (63%) showed hyphael invasion with Aspergillus (mainly the lung as target organ). There were five proven cases in patients without compromising host factors according to the EORTC/MSG definitions (three liver cirrhosis, one pneumonia in a 95-year-old man, one Klebsiella sepsis with MOF). Conclusion: IA is an emerging infectious disease in non-haematooncological ICU patients. There seems to be a broad group of patients at risk of IA. IA was diagnosed in patients without characteristics described in the EORTC/MSG definitions. It seems worthwhile to investigate the validity of the available diagnostic tools in non-haemato-oncological patients at risk for IA in a prospective manner. P1001 Epidemiology of invasive aspergillosis in a teaching hospital, France: a 6-year survey (1998-2003) A. Cornillet, C. Camus, S. Nimubona, V. Gandemer, P. Tattevin, C. Belleguic, S. Chevrier, C. Meunier, C. Lebert, M. Aupée, B. Lelong, C. Guiguen, J.-P. Gangneux for the Aspergillosis Study Group

Objectives and methods: The aim of this survey was to characterise a file of patients who developed an invasive aspergillosis (IA) in our institution, their risk factors and management. We analysed retrospectively the cases of IA, which occurred between 1998 and 2001, then prospectively all new cases until the end of 2003. The overall survey covered a 6-year period. Cases were classified as suspected, probable or proven IA, using criteria derived from the EORTC/MSG classification. Results and discussion: Until 11/2003, out of the 80 cases of IA analysed, nine were histologically proven, 47 were probable IA and 24 were suspected IA. The sex ratio was 1.5 male:one female with a mean age of 53 years (ranging from 4 to 89 years). Fifty percent of cases were diagnosed in the Intensive Care Units, and 36% in Haematology units (28% in adults and 8% in paediatrics). Neutropenia was the major risk factor in 55% of the patients (during haematological malignancies and solid cancers). However, we also noted an increasing number of IA in patients under corticosteroid therapy for COBP, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, Horton and microvascular diseases, in comparison to available data in the literature. Other cases occurred in solid organ transplant recipients and only one out of the 80 patients was infected by HIV. Prognosis factors will be discussed. Regarding biological diagnosis, good sensitivities of the mycologic examination (microscopy + culture) and the galactomannan antigen detection by enzyme immunoassay (Platelia Aspergillus, Biorad) were noted: 75 and 71%, respectively. The sensitivity reached 80% when both tests were combined. Pulmonary imagery was less efficient, probably due to the fact that, in our institution, CT scans are performed later than proposed in the literature. During this survey, we observed great modifications in therapeutic approaches. First line treatment progressively switched from deoxycholate Amphotericin B (AmB) to voriconazole and second line treatments now include lipid formulations of AmB and caspofungin acetate. AmB deoxycholate and voriconazole were the two drugs used for empirical therapy. The overall mortality was >70%. Conclusion: IA remains a major life-threatening infection among immunosuppressed patients, although protective measures such as air filtration significantly reduced its incidence in neutropenic patients. However, this 6-year-survey points out the increasing number of cases in non-neutropenic patients hospitalised in wards without air filtration. This emerging population of patients must be taken into account and imposes to reinforce surveillance for high-risk groups and to rethink our preventive measures. priate chest CT appearance) was the sole basis of the diagnosis in 13 (65%) pts. In the remaining seven (35%) pts, positive ELISA accompanied either histopathological or microbiological evidence of IA. Five (38%) of these 13 pts were later upgraded to definite IA. Nineteen of the 20 pts were assessed for efficacy at the end of CAS Rx. The favourable response rate was 26% (5/19). Pts whose only evidence of IA at CAS onset was ELISA (and characteristic chest CT findings) had a 38% (5/13) success rate. Follow-up ELISA data was available in 17 pts. Four of five pts with a favourable response to CAS had negative ELISA by the end of Rx. The one other pt with a favourable response had quantitative ELISA improvement that was temporally associated with clinical and radiographic response. Of the 12 pts with unfavourable responses and follow-up ELISA data, 10 had no ELISA improvement and two had normalisation of ELISA while on CAS. Conclusions: In this study, the use of ELISA did not result in an exaggerated favourable response rate. In general, the ELISA was associated with clinical/radiographic response. Paradoxical ELISA increases in pts clinically/radiographically responding to CAS were not noted.

best RAPD patterns with respect to number, spreading and intensity of the bands, but the highest level of discrimination was achieved by a combination of data generated by both of them. Therefore, we emphasise the convenience of using at least two primers for RAPD typing. Objectives: To gain insight into the molecular epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus at a tertiary hospital. Methods: All S. aureus isolates recovered from blood samples over a 1-year period were analysed. Demographic, clinical and microbiological data from these patients were collected. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed by the Wider System and the disk diffusion method; all methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates underwent confirmatory PCR analysis for the mecA gene. Molecular characterisation was performed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) following DNA extraction and SmaI digestion. Patterns differing by less than seven DNA fragments and with a Dice coefficient of correlation >80% were considered a common bacterial type while subtypes included isolates with indistinguishable PFGE patterns. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed with Epi-Info 2002 and SPSS 10.0 softwares. Results: One hundred and sixty-two episodes of S. aureus bacteraemia, whether methicillin-resistant or methicillin-susceptible (MSSA), were nosocomial in origin (77.2%) or were cases associated with the healthcare system (15.4%). Only a total of 12 cases of bacteraemia (7.4%), one MRSA and 11 MSSA, were strictly considered to be community-acquired. Thirty-five unique S. aureus PFGE types were identified among 154 DNA macrorestriction patterns. Within the isolates of MRSA, four major genotypes were identified, with 36 isolates (85.7%) represented by a single PFGE type. In contrast, the 112 isolates of MSSA comprised 31 different PFGE types, of which 16 represented more than one isolate. Three PFGE types were found to represent 42% of all MSSA isolates. These common strains were found with equal frequency among adults and paediatric patients, and were evenly distributed between nosocomial and community-acquired cases. Conclusion: Our results provide indirect evidence of ongoing transmission of MRSA and MSSA in our hospital. In the case of MRSA, the spread is predominantly due to a single clone, with transmission favoured by increased length of stay in hospital and the administration of beta-lactam antibiotics. In contrast, the spread of MSSA bacteraemia in this population is associated with multiple, genetically distinct strains. (2) to use a real-time PCR to detect the presence of mecA gene in S. aureus clinical isolates. Methods: Seventy-three strains obtained from clinical specimens were identified by MicroScan (Dade Behring) and coagulase test (28 S. aureus, 15 S. epidermidis and 30 other coagulase negative staphylococci). In vitro susceptibility was determined by MicroScan and disc diffusion. A total of 39 S. aureus strains were classified according to methicillin susceptibility: 21 resistant and 18 susceptible to methicillin. DNA was obtained by incubation at 100 C in lysis buffer. Real-time PCR was performed in a LightCycler instrument (Roche Diagnostics, Spain) using two commercially available kits: (1) LightCycler Staphylococcus kit Mgrade: PCR was positive in all staphylococci and they were differentiated according to melting temperature (62.1 AE 2 C for S. aureus, and 43.4-59 C for CNS) and (2) LightCycler MRSA detection kit: PCR was positive in mecA positive S. aureus. An internal control excludes the presence of inhibition. Once the DNA was extracted the whole process takes 1 h. Results: Twenty-seven out of 28 S. aureus strains were clearly identified by real-time PCR due to the melting temperature (range from 60.2 to 63.4 C). One S. aureus showed melting temperature of 59.8 C. All S. epidermidis strains showed melting temperature from 50.1 to 53.4 C. S. lugdunensis showed melting temperature of 58.6, 54.6 and 53.1 C. Other CNS showed melting temperature from 51 to 57.1 C. Twenty-five out of 39 (64.1%) strains tested were mecA positive by using this LightCycler MRSA kit and realtime PCR. Among the 25 mecA positive, 21 were fenotipically methicillin resistant (84%) whilst four were methicillin susceptible (16%). All 14 mecA negative strains were susceptible to methicillin by phenotypic methods. Conclusions: Real-time PCR (LightCycler) seems to be an accurate method to identify S. aureus and differentiate it from different CNS and to detect resistance to methicillin in S. aureus. Both reactions could be done simultaneously and the whole process takes less than 2 h (DNA extraction plus real-time PCR). Objectives: Surveillance of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Canada began in 1995. From this surveillance, six epidemic strains of MRSA have been identified and named CMRSA1-6. In order to better understand the relatedness of these strains, as well as their genetic content, we have used microarrays to compare their genomes to that of the fully characterised genome of the MRSA strain Col. Methods: Genomic DNA from representatives of the six epidemic strains, as well as Col was fragmented and labelled using random primers with Cy5 or Cy3 labelled dCTP. Col and each of the epidemic strains (labelled with different dyes) were hybridised to arrays containing PCR products or 70 bp oligomers representing 2740 of the open reading frames (ORFs) in the Col genome. Data were processed with the ArrayPro software package, positive/ negative cut-off values were determined using Genomotyping Analysis by Charles Kim and then analysed using the GeneMaths program. Macrorestriction digest patters were generated using SmaI. Results: Results indicate that all Canadian epidemic strains have six common regions of deletion, a portion of the type I SCCmec region, bacteriophage L54a, and four smaller areas composed of two to four ORFs. The only gene of known function in these smaller areas was the Staphylococcal enterotoxin B. Apart from these major deletions, many sporadic, single deletions are seen throughout the strains. Larger regions of deletion that are not present in all strains also occur. The only obvious ORF duplication is of IS431 in CMRSA3, 5 and 6, which is found in multiple copies in the typeIII SCCmec region in these strains. Macrorestriction digest data were used to approximate the sizes of the CMRSA genomes. CMRSA4 shows the smallest genome ($1862 kb), and the least genetic content in common with COL (79%). Though CMRSA1 and 2 appear to have larger genomes ($2378 and $2706 kb, respectively), they show fewer ORFs in common with Col than other strains (81 and 86%, respectively), suggesting a substantial portion of the genome may be novel. Conclusions: This is the first study of epidemic MRSA using the comparative genomic hybridisation approach. While the CMRSA strains show a high degree of relatedness to Col, there are considerable differences in genetic content. This study also indicates that there may be genetic content which is unaccounted for in the Col genome. Other studies are being devised to identify and characterise the novel genetic content. Objectives: In Finland, the annual number of MRSA isolates notified to the National Infectious Disease Register (NIDR) has constantly increased, especially outside Helsinki metropolitan area. Molecular typing has revealed numerous outbreak strains of MRSA, and some of them have been associated with community acquisition. We analysed strain types identified by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of MRSA isolates sent to the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) during 1997-2003. Methods: All isolates of MRSA notified by the Finnish clinical microbiology laboratories were sent to NRL for further verification and characterisation, including PFGE analysis. PFGE profiles differing by fewer than six bands were interpreted as identical or closely related. One isolate per person were included in the analysis. Strain types were categorised as sporadic (strain type only found from one person), domestic outbreak or international epidemic (strain type found from more than one person) as well as community-acquired (strain type associated with community acquisition in our previous study). The proportions of MRSA isolates included in each category were assessed. Results: A total of 2496 MRSA isolates were studied. The number of MRSA isolates increased from 138 in 1997 to 804 in 2003. PFGE identified more than 200 different strain types. Of the MRSA isolates, 9% were sporadic, 66% domestic outbreak and 25% international epidemic. One strain type disappeared compared with years before 1997, and 11 new strain types appeared during 1997-2003. The proportion of sporadic strains varied between 3 and 18% during the study period. Of the international epidemic strains, Bel EC-3 increased from <1% in 1997 to 27% in 2003, mainly outside Helsinki metropolitan area. UK EMRSA-16 decreased from 13% in 1997 to <1% in 2003, and Helsinki I (a representative of MLST ST-5 strains) from 18 to 6%, respectively. UK EMRSA-15 varied between 1 and 6%. The three main strains with community-acquisition fluctuated during the study period (range, 10-30%).

Conclusions: Intensive national surveillance with molecular typing revealed that the predominant MRSA strains change over time. The internationally spread epidemic strains of MRSA have also been found in Finland. However, most of them show a decreasing trend or have disappeared. These results encourage us to continue aggressive interventions with each new MRSA case. Introduction: According to recent studies, community-acquired (CA)-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains often contain a type IV SCCmec cassette and Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) locus. It has also been shown that certain multilocus sequence types (ST) seem to be connected to CA-MRSA strains from different continents. Materials and methods: We studied 108 Finnish CA-MRSA strains for their genotype by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST), the methicillin resistance genes by SCCmec PCR and the presence of PVL gene locus by PCR. MRSA was defined as community acquired if the MRSA specimen was obtained outside hospital settings or within 2 days of hospital admission from a person who had not been hospitalised within 2 years before the date of MRSA isolation. To confirm the functionality of the PVL-PCR reaction and the quality of the DNA, nuc gene was amplified at the same time. Results: The majority of CA-MRSA strains studied (91/108, 84%) possessed SCCmec cassette type IV but only 13 (12%) were PVL positive. All but two PVL positive strains contained SCCmec type IV. One strain had SCCmec cassette III subtype, and for one strain the type was not determined. The PVL positive strains were mostly (9/13, 69%) of multilocus ST80. The four remaining PVL-positive strains were of ST1 (two strains) and ST8 and 96. The sequence types correlated well with the PFGE results: All strains with ST80 were analysed as PFGE profile HkiVIII and strains with ST1 as PFGE profile Nurmes. ST96 (SCCmec cassette -III subtype) and ST8 (SCCmec not determined) strains were considered as sporadic. The 95 PVL negative CA-MRSA strains belonged to 15 different shared and four sporadic PFGE profile types. The MLST analysis of PVL negative strains is currently underway. Conclusions: Most of the Finnish CA-MRSA strains have SCCmec cassette type IV but only a minority contain PVL gene locus, which is in contrast to previous reports. Majority of the PVL gene positive strains possessed ST80. In spite of the strict definition for community-acquisition we used, majority (88%) of Finnish CA-MRSA were PVL negative and showed heterogeneous PFGE profiles. Objectives: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is among the major pathogens. The most common methods currently used for identifying methicillin (oxacillin) resistance in many clinical laboratories are susceptibility tests. The performance of these tests has been erratic because the expression of resistance is variable and commonly heterogeneous within strains. Methods: A retrospective laboratory-based study was carried out with clinical isolates of S. aureus in a tertiary care providing Uni-versity hospital in Thrace, Greece. Methicillin (oxacillin) susceptibility of 118 S. aureus isolates, which were recovered from various clinical specimens (blood cultures, tracheal aspirates, wound swabs and central venous catheters) were studied by four different methods: (1) agar screening test [MH-oxacillin (6 lg/mL) agar supplemented with 4% NaCl], (2) susceptibility determination by the Vitek 2 (BioMerieux), (3) MIC was determined by E-test (AB Biodisk), (4) mec-A gene detection by PCR, using specific primers. The strains were evaluated by using the presence of mecA gene detected by PCR, as definitive criteria for MRSA and non-MRSA. The susceptibility tests were carried out as recommended by the NCCLS. Results: Among all the isolates, 44 were identified as mecA-positive and the remaining 74 as mecA-negative. The percentages of correct results (% sensitivity/% specificity) were: oxacillin agar screen, 98/100; E-test, 93/100; and Vitek-2, 100/89. Ten isolates, negative for the mec-A gene by PCR, were recognised by at least one phenotyping method as oxacillin resistant. Only one strain mecA-positive was incorrectly identified as oxacillin-negative by the oxacillin agar screen. Conclusions: As shown in this and other studies, no phenotypic method is completely reliable for the detection of oxacillin resistance in S. aureus. The specificity was generally high, especially with the agar screening and E-test methods, while the sensitivity varied between the different methods. In particular, the oxacillin screen test is the most accurate test and approaches the accuracy of PCR. Although, the presence of the mecA gene, as detected by PCR, still remains the 'gold standard', agar-screening test should be considered in association with other susceptibility methods to maximise the ability to correctly detect oxacillin-susceptibility in S. aureus. P1016 Amplification of DNA fragments surrounding rare restriction sites (ADSRRS-fingerprinting) for typing Staphylococcus aureus isolated from patients with recurrent furunculosis W. Baranska-Rybak, R. Nowicki, E. Scieburako, J. Kur, E. Arlukowicz, A. Samet Gdansk, PL Introduction: In the present study we report data on phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus strains. The aim of our research was to identify SA genotypes in the patients suffering from recurrent furunculosis. Materials: We obtained 70 isolates from 45 patients with recurrent furunculosis. Purulent discharge from furuncle, nasal and throat swabs were taken for culture. Methods: The identity strain of SA was confirmed by novel DNA-typing technique. Amplification of DNA fragments surrounding rare restriction sites (ADSRRS-fingerprinting ) is an effective and rapid method for molecular typing of isolates of bacteria. This method is based on suppression of PCR (polymerase chain reaction) reaction. SA DNA was digested with two restriction enzymes: BamHI (10 U/mL) (Sigma) and XbaI (10 U/mL) (Sigma). Cohesive ends of DNA were ligated with adapters (XbaI short adapter and BamHI long adapter) and amplified. PCR products were electrophoresed on polyacrylamide gels, stained by ethidium bromide and photographed under UV. Results: ADSRRS-fingerprinting of 70 SA isolates revealed 10 unique patterns. In most cases the strains isolated from the same patient (nose, throat and furuncle) gave identical pattern. The reverse situation was found in five patients. Conclusions: (1) In most cases we confirmed the identity between nasal/throat and furuncle SA isolates. (2) We found no specific genotype, which is responsible for recurrent furunculosis. (3) ADSRRS-fingerprinting seems to be a very useful method for epidemiological studies of SA. Objectives: Rapid and efficient epidemiologic typing systems may be useful to investigate dissemination of the lineages of Staphylococcus aureus. We have compared the usefulness of well-established methods to those of newly developed rapid typing methods as epidemiological tools. Methods: A total of 59 S. aureus isolates were analysed by pulsedfield gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), repetitive-element PCR technique (rep-PCR) based on the presence of DNA sequence that are homologous to MP3 repeat in Mycoplasma pneumoniae, multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA), and multiplex PCR-based method with primer mix of the spa gene, the coa gene, and the hypervariable region adjacent to mecA gene. Results: Fifty-nine S. aureus isolates clustered by PFGE in 50 different genotypes. MLVA, which had the highest compatibility with PFGE of all testing methods in this study, clustered into 38 different genotypes, multiplex PCR-based method clustered into 23, and rep-PCR clustered into 16 different genotypes. Rep-PCR differentiated S. aureus isolates in a way similar to MLST that clustered these isolates in 19 groups. Conclusion: Although PFGE is still the gold standard, owing to its high discriminatory power amongst molecular typing methods, genotyping methods based on PCR may be useful in respect of speed and ease of performance. MLVA, multiplex PCR-based methodology and rep-PCR are rapid, reproducible, and easy to perform. However, MLVA and multiplex PCR-based method generate more unambiguous results than those of rep-PCR. Objectives: To determine whether the variable visual outcome in endophthalmitis secondary to coagulase-negative Staphylococci spp. are due to different strains causing intraocular infection, with a possible difference in virulence of each strain or resistance to the antibiotics given. Methods: Twenty-eight intraocular samples infected with coagulase-negative Staphylococci spp. were analysed using both biotyping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis for strain identification. The results were correlated with the visual outcome after 6 months post-treatment. Results: Four different strains of coagulase-negative Staphylococci spp. were found to cause endophthalmitis; S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus, S. equorum and S. warneri. Twenty-one out of the 28 isolates were identified as S. epidermidis and the others were grouped as non-S. epidermidis for correlation with the clinical data. Comparing the S. epidermidis with the non-S. epidermidis infected cases, it was found that the mean visual gain was significantly better for the non-S. epidermidis infected cases [(mean visual gain of 38.1 vs. 83.3 LogMAR letters, respectively) (P ¼ 0.029)].The visual outcome was significantly worse for patients infected with S. epidermidis and antibiotic resistance was more common among these isolates although all were sensitive to at least one of the three/four antibiotics given. Comparing the non-S. epidermidis infected cases to the S. epidermidis infected cases that were sensitive to all four antibiotics used, the visual outcome was still significantly better in the non-S. epidermidis group [mean visual gain 83.3 vs. 25.75 LogMAR letters, respectively) (P ¼ 0.022)].

Use of arbitrarily primed PCR to study Salmonella ecology in turkey production environment

Detection of Salmonella serovars from clinical samples by enrichment broth cultivation -PCR procedure

P979 Aetiology and resistance of community urinary tract infections in São Paulo, Brazil: a three-year survey with 27 437 positive cultures

8%) positive cultures were analysed in this survey. Chi-square test for trend (Altman, 1999) was performed to evaluate the resistance prevalence ordering in the years surveyed (P < 0.05 was considered significant). Results: Among the 27 437 positive cultures, 88.8% were from female and 11.2% from male patients. Among the positive cultures 89.3% presented growth of Enterobacteriaceae followed by 6.7% of Gram-positive cocci

Conclusions: An important difference in the resistance pattern was observed among pathogens and age groups. The difference in age groups suggests the possibility of selective pressure due to previous antimicrobial use in the community setting. Ciprofloxacin could be used for empiric therapy in community UTI. However, its apparent ascending resistance should raise awareness as to possible usage restriction in this setting. Surveillance studies are useful for guiding therapy and helping curbing resistance. P980 Resistance of Escherichia coli isolates from pregnant and non-pregnant women with community-acquired urinary tract

Methods: One hundred and forty-four non-pregnant and 117 pregnant women with signs of upper or lower communityacquired uncomplicated UTIs were enrolled in two multicentre prospective epidemiological studies (eight medical centres), UTIAP-2002 and ARIMB, respectively. The strains isolated from the patients who had significant bacteriuria (>105 CFU/mL) were included in the microbiological analysis. The MICs of antibiotics (ampicillin -AMP, amoxicillin-clavulanate -AMX-CLV, cefuroxime -CFR, cefotaxime -CFT, gentamicin -GNT, co-trimoxazole -CTZ, nitrofurantoin -NTF, fosfomycin -FSF) were determined by the agar dilution, as described in the NCCLS (2003) guidelines. Quality control was performed using reference strains including E. coli ATCC 25922, E. coli ATCC 35218. Results: Resistance rates of E. coli from pregnant and non-pregnant women with CA-UTI in Russia are shown in Figure. There are some statistically significant differences in antimicrobial resistance between studied groups. Ampicillin resistance was higher among UTI isolates of E. coli in non-pregnant women (45.8%) than in pregnant women (31.6%), P < 0.05 (Chi-square statistic)

Methods: Consecutive patients with presumed UTI were included during 14 days if they were older than 15 years and had a positive urine dipstick. Subsequently, urine culture (UC) was prescribed and patients classified according to nine UTI categories. Centres were also required to notify all visits motivated by infectious diseases (ID) during the study period. Results: Of 109 potential participants, 78 included 1054 UTI period, prevalence of ID is estimated at 13.4% of nontrauma visits and prevalence of UTI at 15.9% of all ID. The main UTI categories were acute cystitis (AC ¼ 43.3%), acute pyelonephritis (AP ¼ 38.0%), bacterial prostatitis (BP ¼ 9.0%). Mean age of patients was 46.0 AE 23.8 years and sex ratio F in 71%. However, both differ significantly according to UTI category

all BC received in the Microbiology Service were included in our study. All the specimens were performed with Bact/ALERT 3D (bioMerieux) initially during 5 days or 30 days in special cases

Related to the detection time in aerobic bottles, 36.62% gave a positive result in the first 12 h of incubation (average 6.8 h) cumulative percentage of 50% at 24 h. In the second day, 80.28% were positive. In anaerobic bottles 50.68% gave a positive result in the first 12 h of incubation (average 7.8 h) cumulative percentage of 67.11% at 24 h. In the second day 93.14% were positive. Candida albicans was isolated in 47.37% cases

Methods: From 1/03/2003 to 31/11/2003 we studied all yeasts considered pathogens from all body sites, from paediatric pts in all in-hospital locations. Isolation and yeasts species identification were carried out by conventional methods. On isolates, FLU and VOR susceptibilities were assessed by the NCCLS M44-P method, with disks tested in Mueller-Hinton medium with glucose and methylen blue, 0.5 MacFarland inoculum. All susceptibility test results were read by BIOMIC Plate Reader System (Giles Scientific). C. albicans (Ca) ATCC 90028 was included. NCCLS FLU Breakpoints (mcg/ml) were S < 8, S-DD 16-32, R > 64 with corresponding zone interpretative criteria (mm) S > 19, S-DD 15-18, R < 14. Breakpoints for VOR have not yet been established. Results: In the study period we recovered 65 Ca, 21 C. parapsilosis (Cp), 16 C. tropicalis (Ct), two C. krusei, two C. glabrata (Cg), two C. lusitaniae (Cl) and one Tricosporon beigelii. Species were isolated: 20% from urinary tract, 25%, upper respiratory tract, 19% miscellaneous fluids, 13% lower respiratory tract, 10% blood, 9% CVC, 4% various. Patients with yeasts infections were hospitalised: 49% in PICU/NICU, 14% haematology-oncology, 11% surgery, 6% infectious diseases, 6% nephrology, 5% pneumology, 5% medicine, 2% orthopedics, 2% dermathology. Distribution of bloodstream isolates were: four Cp, three Ct, one Ca and one Cl. Seventy percent of Cp strains were recovered from PICU/NICU pts. The average zone diameter (mm) -MIC50/MIC90 (mcg/mL) (agar disk gradients) were: Ca FLU 34 FLU with VOR MICs >48 mcg/mL, one Ct was FLU SDD, one Gg was R to FLU and inhibited with 1.1 mcg/mL of VOR. Conclusions: Our results show that Ca is still the predominant species recovered from paediatric pts; Cp and Ct appear to be recovered with increased frequency in serious infections of critically ill pts

P993 Trends in species distribution and antifungal susceptibility in Candida wound infections: an overview of a 6-year period

When compared with C. albicans, patients with C. glabrata fungaemia were older (58 vs. 42), had received more previous antifungals (37 vs. 10%, P ¼ 0.01) and antimicrobial agents (97 vs. 73%, P ¼ 0.01), had more indwelling bladder catheters (90 vs. 50%, P < 0.001) and had more septic metastasis (23 vs. 6%, P ¼ 0.07). IV catheters were more commonly withdrawn in patients with C. glabrata fungaemia (60 vs. 33%, P ¼ 0.03), whereas these patients received fewer antifungals (57 vs. 70%, NS). MIC90 of C. glabrata were fluconazole (FLU) 16 mg/L, itraconazole 1 mg/L, amphotericin B (AMB) 1 mg/L and voriconazole 0.5 mg/L. Surprisingly, FLU was more frequently selected to treat patients with C. glabrata (57 vs. 24%). Mortality was similar (50 vs. 53%). Six of the 10 patients treated with FLU died, as well as four of the seven treated with AMB. Two patients had persistent fungaemia despite catheter withdrawal and FLU therapy

CS P1002 Invasive aspergillosis in patients with COPD

of patients with COPD and Aspergillus spp. in respiratory samples to determine risk factors and outcome. Results: We identified 219 patients with COPD and Aspergillus spp. in respiratory samples. Median age was 72 AE 9.3 years. Eighty-three percent were men. Forty-one patients had criteria for 'probable' IFI

None of 107 cases had criteria to suspect an IFI, however, nine were treated and all but one died. The remainder were colonisations. Conclusions: A progressive increase of COPD patients with Aspergillus spp. has been observed but frequently, this is a colonisation. However, we observed that patients in 'probable' category have a high rate (17%) of 'proven' IFI, similar to other known risk groups. We think that these categories could help in clinical practice and to identify homogeneous groups for clinical research in diagnostic methods and therapeutic interventions

P1003 Evaluation of serum galactomannan ELISA during caspofungin therapy: results from the Caspofungin Salvage Invasive Aspergillosis Study

A sandwich ELISA assay, which detects circulating Aspergillus galactomannan antigen using a rat monoclonal antibody has recently been licensed (Plateliaâ, BIORAD). Yet, animal models of IA have shown that treatment (Rx) with an echinocandin may result in a paradoxical increase in antigenemia despite clinical/radiographic improvement. Concern also remains that using ELISA as the sole means of IA diagnosis may result in exaggerated favourable outcomes. To address these concerns, we reviewed the ELISA experience from the caspofungin (CAS) salvage invasive aspergillosis (IA) study. Methods: Patients (pts) with proven/probable IA were eligible for enrolment. Probable IA was limited to pulmonary sites. Probable pulmonary IA could be diagnosed serologically provided the pt had an appropriate chest CT appearance (halo sign, air-crescent sign) and positive ELISA on more than two consecutive tests. All pts were refractory (>7 days) or intolerant of prior antifungal Rx. CAS, with doses ranging from 50-100 mg/day, was administered as monoRx. Efficacy was assessed at the end of CAS Rx. Favourable responses were limited to complete or partial responses. Results: Of the 127 pts enrolled, 20 (16%) had consecutively positive serum ELISA at the onset of CAS

Underlying diseases were: lymphoid: 55%; myeloid: 40%; non-malignant: 5%. Clinical efficiency of the test was tested at three different cut-off values 1.5, 1.0 and 0.7. Results: Results are summarised in the table. The overall incidence of invasive aspergillosis (IA) was 6.4% (43/667 admissions). Following EORTC definition criteria, the repartition was: two Definite IA, 16 Probable IA and 25 Possible IA. The definition of 'probable' IA was substantiated by positive GM antigen tests (eight cases); both by microbiological (positive cultures) and positive GM antigen tests (four cases) or only by microbiological criteria (four cases). GM antigen was detected at all different cut-off values in 30 cases corresponding to: 1/2 Definite IA, 12/16 Probable IA. Results were considered as false-positives in 17 patients: four cases without clinical context; 15 cases with a negative chest CT-scan

Conclusion: Detection of circulating GM antigen may be helpful for the diagnosis of IA, particularly in the absence of microbiological data, but a substantiated number of false-positive results do occur among patients undergoing antibiotic therapy with Pipera/ tazobactam or Amoxi/clavulanate. Considering different cut-off values did not improve the sensitivity or the specificity of the assay

A results were reported as the number of isolates of each species per plate of the pair. Results: A total of 332 pairs of samples were evaluated. Of these, 42 showed growth of Mucor spp. (40 in SD and two in Czapeck) and could not be studied for Aspergillus. Of the remaining 290 pairs, 157 pairs (54.1%) were positive for Aspergillus spp

A. fumigatus was the most frequently isolated species, 98 pairs (33.8%) were positive [28 (28.6%) on both plates, 39 (39.8%) only in SD and 31 (31.6%) only in Czapeck

Conclusions: Our data supports the recommendation that both media (Czapeck and SD) should be used for correct air sampling

Antifungal combination of caspofungin with flucytosine has been shown to be additive to synergistic in vitro against Aspergillus fumigatus. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the interaction between these two drugs in vivo in an animal model of disseminated aspergillosis. Methods: For in vivo experiments

Survival rates of mice treated with the combination of caspofungin at 0.25 mg/kg/day with flucytosine at 500 and 1000 mg/ kg/day were 79 and 86%, respectively. Mice treated with caspofungin at 0.5 mg/kg/day combined with flucytosine at 500 and 1000 mg/kg/day had a 92 and 79% survival

The study was performed on 57 strains of enterococci all from patients with severe underlying diseases. Strains were isolated from urine (37.9%), blood cultures (18.9%), pus (5.4%), peritoneal fluid (5.4%), intravenous catheter (21.6%), infection of the drainage site (10.8%). Identification to the species level was performed by VITEK 2 (Bio-Merieux, France). Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done by Kirby-Bauer and MIC by E-test and VITEK 2. The sandwich hybridisation method was performed in all strains using the commercially available EVIGENETM VRE Detection kit (Statens Serum Institute), for the presence of vanA and vanB genes.Results: From the stains tested, 37 were vancomycin and teicoplanin resistant (vanA phenotype) and 20 susceptible to these antibiotics, as determined by Kirby-Bauer and MICs by VITEK 2 and E-test methods. Of them, 10 were E. faecalis, 22 E. faecium, three E. casseliflavus and two E. hirae. All the VREs strains, which were suggesting the presence of vanA phenotype by Kirby-Bauer and MIC, were identified to be vanA positive by the sandwich hybridisation method. The 20 susceptible strains were negative for the detection of the genes vanA and vanB. Conclusions: Identification of VRE to the species level and knowledge of the type and the profile of resistance is critical for infection control purposes in the hospital environment. The sandwich hybridisation is a rapid (3.5 h) and easy to use commercially available molecular method to detect the vanA and vanB genes, while the phenotypic resistance determination requires incubation for at least 24 h and other molecular methods require specific instruments and experienced technicians. The sensitivity and specificity of the method is 100%.P948 Evaluation of the Evigene TM VRE detection kit for detecting of enterococci including vancomycin resistance genes A. Kilic, M. Baysallar, G. Bahar, A. Kucukkaraaslan, L. Doganci Ankara, TR Objectives: Evaluating the correlation of the EVIGENETM VRE Detection kit using PCR, which is the golden standard for gene detection and correlating the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for vancomycin and teicoplanin are the aim of this study. Methods: The vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) Detection Kit is based on microwell plates where to DNA probes specific for the bacterial targets DNA are bound. Test wells include: a positive (16S rRNA) and a negative control, a vanA microwell and a vanB microwell. The PCR detects the vanA, vanB, and vanC-2 genes. The MIC determination was performed by E-test according to the NCCLS guidelines. Results: We tested a total of 64 diverse vancomycin resistant enterococci: Enterococcus casseliflavus (n ¼ 50) and Enterococcus faecium (n ¼ 14). All strains were vanA positive (OD: all strains >1.192). All results obtained with the VRE kit were confirmed by the PCR. The MIC determination correlated with the PCR and kit results for all vanA positive strains with high MIC for vancomycin. Conclusion: As a result, the EVIGENE VRE Detection Kit can clearly distinguish VRE with the vanA and vanB genotypes among a large collection of enterococci and with the same specificity as PCR.P949 Development of antibiotic resistance in enterobacteria S.D. Nyberg, A. Hakanen, M. Ö sterblad, P. Huovinen, C. Edlund, J. Jalava Turku, FIN; Stockholm, S Objectives: The main objective is to get a better knowledge of the human microflora in gastro-intestinal organ by following variations among intestinal enterobacteria in four healthy subjects receiving oral clindamycin. The microflora in the chosen subjects will be monitored for a 2-year period. The presence and stability of specific resistance genes will be studied in samples collected serially from selected antibiotic exposed subjects. blaTEM and blaSHV that code for an extended spectrum beta-lactamase in Enterobacteriaceae will be studied. The study will be done by using identification, susceptibility testing, PCR and molecular fingerprinting methods. Methods: Serially collected faecal samples from four healthy subjects who had received clindamycin perorally for 7 days were cultured and screened for Enterobacteriaceae. Sampling was performed pretreatment, day 7, 3 weeks, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months after clindamycin administration. Between 20 and 50 colonies of suspected Enterobacteriaceae were picked from each sample. Biochemical identification of the bacterial isolates was done by oxidase, indole production and activity of beta-glucoronidase. MICs were determined according to NCCLS by standard agar dilution method on Mü ller-Hinton II medium. The following antimicrobials were tested: ampicillin, cephalothin, cefuroxime, piperacillin/ tazobactam, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, ceftazidime, cefotaxime, imipenem, aztreonam, gentamicin, streptomycin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, nalidixic acid, trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin. Results: A total of 521 isolates were identified as oxidase negative, Gram-negative rods and thus belonged to the Enterobacteriaceae. The isolates were then screened for indole and betaglucoronidase activity. These results showed that 81% of all strains were E. coli. Of all strains, 60% were resistant to ampicillin, 46% against sulfamethoxazole, 11.9% against cephalothin and 7.7% against nalidixic acid. The variation of antibiotic resistance between subjects is broad. Conclusion: Enterobacteriaceae are naturally resistant to clindamycin. However, after clindamycin treatment alterations in the susceptibility to other antimicrobial agents still occur in the microflora. Additional research needs to be done to clarify if these alterations in antibiotic resistance are caused by variation of strains/species or exchange of resistant elements.P950 Prevalence and implication of the cfiA and cphA genes in imipenem resistance among Bacteroides spp.M. Theron, M.N. Janse van Rensburg, C. Roussouw Bloemfontein, ZA Objectives: Bacteroides is a major cause of intra-abdominal and female genital tract infections as well as subcutaneous abscesses. Beta-lactam agents and carbapenems are currently used in monotherapy against anaerobic infections. The study was done to: (1) investigate the susceptibility of Bacteroides strains isolated from Bloemfontein Academic Hospitals; (2) compare results with a previous study; (3) determine the prevalence of carbapenemases/ metallo-beta-lactamases in Bacteroides spp. Methods: Fifty-one Bacteroides spp. strains were isolated from patients in the Universitas and Pelonomi Hospitals in Bloemfontein. MICs of 12 antimicrobial agents were determined by the NCCLS agar dilution method. A bioassay was used to screen for carbapenemase or metallo-beta-lactamase production. PCR amplification was performed for the detection of cfiA and cphA genes. Plasmids were extracted using a High Pure Plasmid Isolation Kit. Results: Susceptibility levels were relatively high for imipenem (95%), meropenem (90%) and metronidazole (88%). Comparing the results with a previous study (isolates from 1996/1997), showed a reduction in susceptibility to imipenem (100-95%), meropenem (100-90%) and metronidazole (100-88%). The bioassay results gave no indication of the presence of significant concentrations of a carbapenemase or metallo-beta-lactamase. PCR amplification showed the cfiA gene (747 bp) in 4/18 strains (imipenem MIC 1 to >128 lg/mL) and the cphA gene (769 bp) in 3/18 of the isolates (imipenem MIC 1-4 lg/mL). No plasmids were detected. Conclusions: Although >90% of the isolates were susceptible to the carbapenems, it is evident that resistance has increased over the last decade. Fortunately the production of metallo-beta-lactamases has been found to give rise to MICs that only range from 2 to 4 lg/mL. This study supports these findings with the exception of one isolate with a MIC >128 lg/mL. Demonstration of the cfiA P973 Application of molecular biological techniques to the study of alterations in hamster gut microflora and assessment of treatment with Saccharomyces boulardii L. Coroler, G. Philippe-Taine, E. Bayart, T. Cécile, J.-M. Gillardin, H. Goïot Compie`gne, F Objectives: Studies of the intestinal microbial ecosystem by classical culture techniques suggest that only 30% of the microflora can be cultured. PCR procedures based on 16S rRNA gene specific for bacteria were developed to detect bacterial populations in hamster faeces. Methods: A total of 30 populations of bacteria were characterised by their genomic DNA sequences and targeted by PCR probes: Actinomyces group, Bacteroides distasonis, Bacteroides fragilis, Bifidobacterium group, B. adolescentis, B. angulatum, B. catenulatum, B. infantis, B. longum, Clostridium group, C. clostridiiforme, C. coccoides, C. difficile, C. leptum, C. perfringens, Fusobacterium prausnitzii, Lactobacillus group, Peptosteptococcus productus, Propionibacterium group, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Ruminococcus obeum, Citrobacter group, C. freundii, Escherichia group, Enterobacteria group, Enterobacter cloacae, Morganella morganii, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus group, Salmonella group. Results: Sensitivity was measured by extraction of total genomic DNA and PCR amplification and a significant detection level of 10 3 bacteria/faecal sample was obtained. Qualitative variations of bacteria population were observed during the first 2 weeks of acclimatisation, suggesting a stabilisation period for hamster microflora in new environmental conditions. After oral antibiotherapy, with one dose of 30 mg/kg amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, some groups were eradicated from hamster faeces: Propionibacterium, Staphylococcus and C. leptum, C. clostridiiforme. As reported in the literature, no antibiotic effect was observed on levels of dominant faecal groups: Bifidobacterium, Peptostreptococcus. Antibioticassociated perturbations are linked with the disruption of the normal intestinal flora leading to a colonisation of pathogen bacteria species. In order to understand the role of Saccharomyces boulardii (S.b.) in prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, 4 Â 10 10 CFU/kg/day of S.b. were administered to hamsters during oral antibiotic treatment. The results showed that populations that were eradicated by antibiotic administration remained expressed and stabilised with concomitant S.b. treatment, suggesting an effective protection by S.b. on the intestinal flora. Conclusions: These PCR results should be used to quantify the intestinal microflora by DNA microarray analysis. Objectives: The Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii complex (Acb complex) includes A. calcoaceticus (genospecies 1), A. baumannii (genospecies 2), unnamed genospecies 3 and 13TU. These species are difficult to differentiate by phenotype. In this study, the feasibility of using sequences of the 16S-23S rDNA spacer region (ITS) for identification of the Acb complex was evaluated. Methods: The bacteria-specific universal primers 13 BF (GTGAA TACGT TCCCG GGCCT) and 6R (GGGTT YCCCC RTTCR GAAAT) (Y ¼ C or T, and R ¼ A or G) were used to amplify a DNA fragment that encompassed a small portion of the 16S rDNA region, the ITS, and a small portion of the 23S rDNA region. The ITS regions from 108 reference strains (42 species) of nonfermenters including strains of Acb complex were amplified by PCR and sequenced; the sequence data in combination with those available in GenBank were used to construct an ITS sequence database for the identification of Acb complex. For reference strains of each species of the Acb complex, the sequence similarities of the ITS regions were obtained by comparing their ITS sequences with that of the type strain of the same species. The database was used to test 82 clinical isolates of Acb complex, including 63 isolates of A. baumannii and 19 isolates of A. calcoaceticus, as identified by API 20NE. Results: A. baumannii had the shortest ITS fragment (607-609 bp) followed by genospecies 13TU (608-615 bp), genospecies 3 (619-621 bp) and A. calcoaceticus (627-638 bp). The intraspecies ITS similarity of the Acb complex was very high, ranging from 0.98 to 1.0, whereas the interspecies ITS similarity was relatively low (range: 0.86-0.91). Among the 63 clinical isolates of A. baumannii, two isolates were genospecies 3 and 14 isolates were ungroupable, as revealed by ITS sequence analysis. Therefore, about 25% of clinical isolates of A. baumannii was misidentified. Furthermore, among the 19 clinical isolates of A. calcoaceticus, 16 isolates were genospecies 3 and three isolates were ungroupable. Therefore, the designation of A. calcoaceticus to clinical isolates is, under most conditions, not correct. These results were confirmed by amplified rDNA restriction analysis (ARDRA). Conclusions: ITS sequence analysis provides a simple and useful alternative for species delineation of the Acb complex. Objectives: Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) are increasingly implicated in acute and persistent diarrhoea around the world. Phenotypically, EAEC have a defining 'stacked brick' pattern of aggregative adherence (AA) to epithelial cell lines in vitro. Genotypically, they are diverse, and while a range of EAEC pathogenicity factors are known, their distribution amongst strains varies. The most widely used DNA probe for EAEC is CVD432, which has been reported to have limited sensitivity in some studies, but it is presumed to be specific for EAEC. The aim of this study was to determine whether the CVD432 probe is a specific tool for identifying EAEC strains imported into the UK. Methods: A total of 520 E. coli isolates (four per patient) were obtained from consecutive stool samples of 130 diarrhoeal patients with a recent history of foreign travel (33 different countries). All were screened for hybridisation with the CVD432 probe, as well as EAEC plasmid encoded virulence factors aggR (aggregative adherence regulator), aap (dispersin) and the chromosomal pathogenicity-island-encoded mucinase pic. Other pathogenic E. coli were identified using standard probes. CVD432 probe positive strains were then examined for adherence to HEp 2 cells after coincubation for 3 h. Results: The prevalence of EAEC-associated genes amongst the 520 isolates was: CVD432 8.3%; aggR 6.3%; aap 11%; pic 13.3%. Adherence assays on the 43 isolates that were CVD432 positive revealed a mixture of aggregative (24 isolates) and non-adherent strains (nine isolates) plus 10 isolates that gave an unusual pattern of loose, highly localised aggregation, present on <5% of the HEp-2 cells. Of the CVD432 positive strains, 65% were aap, aggR, and pic positive as well, but this group also contained strains of all three adherence types. None of the other EAEC-associated probes was unequivocally predictive of actual AA among CVD432 positive strains. Unexpectedly, CVD432 positive isolates that hybridised with the enteropathogenic E. coli probe eae were isolated from one patient (returning from Turkey). Conclusions: This study suggests that the CVD432 probe may not be specific for true EAEC, even when combined with the other probes used here. The significance of the newly described adherence pattern in relation to diarrhoeal disease remains to be elucidated, as does the finding of E. coli with both EAEC and EPEC properties.

Objectives: Otomycosis represents a significant percentage of clinical external otitis and is usually caused by Candida, Aspergillus, Penicillium and Malassezia. Clinical symptoms such as otorrea, erythema and stenosis of the external auditory canal are commonly present and create appropriate conditions for fungal growth. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of Candida otomycoses and to evaluate the relationship between albicans and non-albicans species. Methods: From April 2002 to November 2003, a total number of 67 patients were found to be suffering from symptoms indicating otitis externa. The specimens were taken by cotton swab from bony portion of external ear. All specimens were inoculated on Sabouraud dextrose agar, incubated at 26 and 37 C for 7 days and examined macroscopically every day. Suspected cultures were examined microscopically in order to confirm finding of Candida spp. The identification of isolated Candida strains was carried out by germ tube test and API 20C AUX assimilation test (BioMerieux, France). Results: In a base of microbiological findings 12 (17.9%) patients considered to be negative, 39 (58.2%) confirm bacterial or mould results and in 16 (23.8%) patients Candida spp. was found. Out of 16 patients with diagnosed Candida otomycosis, in 11 patients only Candida spp. was isolated and in five patients otitis externa was caused by Candida associated with bacterial or mould infection. C. albicans was identified in three (3/16) cases, while all other was non-albicans strains as three cases of C. guilliermondii (3/16), four of C. famata (4/16) and six of C. parapsilosis (6/16) . Conclusion: In clinical finding of otitis externa mycological examination could be very important in setting the accurate diagnosis and appropriate therapy. These results suggest that C. albicans is not the predominant causative agent of otitis externa. Isolation of non-albicans species has particular interest in therapy of otitis externa because of their reduced susceptibility to antifungal agents. The study was focused on the species involved and their in vitro antifungal susceptibility. Molecular typing of the isolates involved in subsequent episodes of RVVC allowed establishing if the strains showed the same DNA type. Methods: Isolates were identified by standard morphological and biochemical methods. MICs of amphotericin-B, itraconazole, fluconazole, ketoconazole, 5-fluorocytosine, voriconazole were determined by Sensititre YeastOne colorimetric antifungal panel plates according to NCCLS document M27-A. The strains were typed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and repetitive extragenic palindromic-PCR DNA fingerprints. Results: C. glabrata was isolated in 53.8%, C. albicans in 30.7%, C. krusei in 15.5% of cases. The yeasts involved in each recurrence were characterised by identical biochemical profiles and drug resistance phenotypes. C. albicans strains isolated from one RVVC resulted in in vitro resistant to azoles. The genotyping by PFGE revealed that C. albicans and C. glabrata obtained from different patients were clinically unrelated to each other while an identical profile, indicating clonal relatedness, was observed with yeasts recovered from the same patient. Conclusion: Our data underline the persistence of strains, with the same antifungal susceptibility profile and clinically related genotypes in patient with recurrent infections, suggesting a colonisation with the same strain over different periods of time despite therapy. These results stress the need for molecular tools for strain typing in order to clarify the epidemiology of the RVVC and to control drug-resistant fungal agent spread. Objectives: Using criteria designed for invasive aspergillosis (IA) in neutropenic patients, the present study aimed to determine the impact of invasive aspergillosis in different groups of non-haematooncological ICU patients. Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of all patients that were hospitalised in the 17-bed medical intensive care unit (MICU) between 1 January 2000 and 1 January 2003. Any admitted patient fulfilling one or more of the following criteria was included in the study: (a) histopathological evidence of Aspergillosis (including autopsy) or (b) microbiological evidence of aspergillosis during stay in the MICU (positive culture or positive circulating galactomannan). IA was classified as proven, probable or possible, according to the EORTC/MSG definitions. Aspergillus isolation from a non-sterile site in patients without appropriate clinical setting was considered as 'colonisation'. Results: Between 2000 and 2003, 127 of 1850 patients (6.9%) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Thirty-eight patients (29%) had haematological malignancies and were not further analysed. Eightynine (71%) were non-haemato-oncological patients (37 COPD, nine solid organ transplant recipients, 17 autoimmune diseases, Objectives: We evaluated the value of Aspergillus PCR as a tool for diagnosing invasive aspergillosis during antifungal therapy from whole blood samples. Methods: In a 3-year study, 36 patients receiving antifungal therapy due to chest radiographic findings highly suggestive for fungal pneumonia were evaluated. The PCR results of whole blood samples were compared with those obtained from bronchoalveolar lavage fluids and/or tissue specimens. Results: A total of 205 whole blood samples, 15 fine needle aspirations or tissue biopsy specimens, 21 bronchoalveolar lavage fluids and tracheal secrets were analysed using PCR. Fifteen patients had proven, nine probable and 12 possible invasive Aspergillus infections according to European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycosis Study Group definitions. In patients with proven infections, the sensitivities of PCR of lung and blood samples were 100 and 40%, respectively. The specificities were 100%. The negative predictive value of blood monitoring under antifungal treatment was 44%. In patients with probable infections, the sensitivities of PCR of lung fluids and blood were 66 and 44%, respectively. The specificities were 100%. The negative predictive value of blood monitoring under antifungal therapy was 58%. Conclusions: The benefits of PCR diagnosing of whole blood are limited if sampling takes place once treatment has started. The performance of Aspergillus PCR should be recommended in addition to microscopic examination and culture technique for sensitive detection of fungal infection. Objective: Air is considered the main vehicle of Aspergillus spores causing community or nosocomially-acquired invasive aspergillosis (IA). Air surveillance is nowadays performed in protected air environments in many institutions. Sabouraud Dextrose Agar Irradiated (SD) is used for the control of air in our institution but Czapeck Agar is also recommended for this purpose. The aim of our study was to compare the efficiency of both media for Aspergillus isolation in air samples. Methods: We collected 332 samples using the Merck Air Sampler MAS 100 Ò with a volume of air per culture of 200 L. Every sample was cultured in both media (pair of samples), and agar plates were incubated at 35 C for 5 days. Aspergillus spp. was identified by conventional methods. The pairs were checked daily to observe the growth of fungi and after the incubation period the Objectives: The spreading of Aspergillus hyphae into the brain of immunocompromised patients is a complication of invasive asper-gillosis that leads to death in nearly 100% of the cases. The most frequent species for induction of cerebral aspergillosis is Aspergillus fumigatus. Our aim was to study the interaction of A. fumigatus with the complement system to determine the reason for the failure of the cerebral immune system. Furthermore, these experiments might give first approaches for a putative immune therapy to support current antimycotical treatment. Methods: Different pools of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were tested for their ability to opsonise fungal hyphae with different complement factors. Germinated conidia were fixated, incubated in CSF, and the deposition of complement was shown via indirect immunofluorescense (IF) by suitable specific antibodies. The extent of surface labelling on Aspergillus was compared with Pseudallescheria boydii, another neurotropic fungus. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of paraffin-embedded tissue sections derived from patients with cerebral aspergillosis allowed the comparison with the complement deposition in vivo.Results: The levels of the complement factors C1q, C4, C3, C5, C6 and C7 in the CSF of normal persons were sufficient for opsonisation of the fungal hyphae, although the deposition was much weaker than in human serum. However, the recognition of Aspergillus surface was not optimal in comparison to P. boydii that showed a clearly stronger deposition. Concentrations of different complement proteins and complement activation products were highly elevated in CSF derived from a patient with cerebral aspergillosis. This CSF showed a significantly stronger complement deposition on the fungal surface than the non-inflammatory CSF. However, IHC-analyses in tissue sections of patients with cerebral aspergillosis showed only limited opsonisation on the fungus. Conclusion: CSF harbours the ability of complement deposition on the surface of neurotropic fungi. Frequent pathogens like Aspergillus fumigatus have adopted their surface to minimise recognition by the complement cascade. Cerebral complement production is upregulated as a consequence of fungal infection, which might contribute to antifungal immune defence but also to inflammation and tissue damage. The amount of deposited factors on the fungal hyphae in vivo is low, indicating the expression of complement inhibitory factor(s) by A. fumigatus. Objectives: Staphylococcus epidermidis is a major pathogen in nosocomial infections, and infectious isolates display a high prevalence of oxacillin resistance (oxaR). Tn917 mutagenesis of rsbU, encoding a positive regulator of the alternative sigma factor sigma B lead to a reduced oxaR in S. epidermidis 1057. However, the mechanism of this regulatory pathway is still unknown. The role of sigma B in the regulation of oxaR in S. epidermidis was investigated in this study. Methods: Two mutants with inactivation of the entire sigma B operon (1057rsbUVWsigB) or the regulatory cascade rsbUVW (1057rsbUVW) were generated by allelic gene replacement in S. epidermidis 1057, which displays a heterogeneous oxacillin resist-ance phenotype. RNA was extracted at 9 and 17 h from cultures in Mueller Hinton + 2% NaCl (MHNaCl) and MHNaCl supplemented with 1 lg/mL Oxacillin (MHoxa). Quantitative transcriptional analysis of mecA, femABCDF, fmtA, mrp (fmtB), and mprF (fmtC) were performed by real-time RT-PCR. At least a 2.5-fold difference compared with the wild type in the average of three independent experiments was defined as cut-off for differentially expressed genes.

Results: Population analysis of the mutants and the wild type strain revealed that mutant 1057rsbUVWsigB displayed a more heterogeneous phenotype with a smaller subpopulation expressing methicillin resistance compared with the wild type. Mutant 1057rsbUVW with constitutive expression of sigma B displayed a strong increase of methicillin resistance and a homogeneous resistance phenotype compared with the wild type. Transcriptional analysis revealed that the homogeneously resistant mutant 1057rsbUVW displayed no differences compared with the wild type under all conditions investigated, except of the gene fmtA, which was downregulated in MHoxa at 9 h. Interestingly, in the less resistant mutant 1057rsbUVWsigB the genes mecA, femB, femD, fmtA, and mprF were upregulated in MHNaCl compared with the wild type at both time points, whereas in MHoxa only the genes femD, fmtA, and mprF were upregulated at 9 or 17 h. Conclusions: None of the investigated genes including mecA is responsible for the homogeneous expression of oxaR in mutant 1057rsbUVW. Mutant 1057rsbUVWsigB displayed a less resistant phenotype compared with the wild type strain, despite the upregulation of several genes required for oxaR. Therefore, an additional sigma B dependent factor must be required for homogeneous expression of oxaR in S. epidermidis. Objectives: To develop methods to measure the initial response of S. aureus after exposure to antimicrobial agents. Such an approach has the potential to allow both the sensitivity and mechanism of resistance to be rapidly determined from isolated bacterial strains. Methods: mRNA was extracted from a selection of S. aureus isolates either with or without 30 min exposure to antimicrobial agents (including oxacillin and mupirocin). The mRNA extracted was then used to produce labelled nucleic acid suitable for hybridisation to a low-density flow through oligonucleotide array targeting specific genes. These arrays are suitable for high throughput screening and provide very rapid hybridisation kinetics.Results: Distinctive changes in mRNA levels were detected for each agent tested and for isolates with different phenotypic susceptibilities. Oxacillin resulted in a significant increase in the levels of penicillin binding protein 2 (PBP2) mRNA in both sensitive and resistant isolates and an increase in the levels of PBP2prime mRNA in resistant isolates only. In contrast mupirocin resulted in very high levels of ile-tRNA synthetase in both strains with high-or low-level mupirocin resistance but not in sensitive strains. Conclusion: Future developments in RNA extraction and labelling as well as the increased availability of DNA array technology will allow this approach to be more widely used. This and similar methods have the potential to provide information on both the resistance phenotype of the isolate and the mechanism of resistance, in contrast to 'classical' molecular tests for drug resistance which generally target known genotypes.