Reduced Susceptibility of Neisseria meningitidis to Ciprofloxacin
Author Information
Author(s): Strahilevitz Jacob, Adler Amos, Smollan Gillian, Temper Violeta, Keller Nathan, Block Colin
Primary Institution: Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
Hypothesis
Is serogroup A Neisseria meningitidis showing reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin in Israel?
Conclusion
The study confirms that serogroup A Neisseria meningitidis has reduced fluoroquinolone susceptibility, which is concerning given the low incidence of this serogroup in Israel.
Supporting Evidence
- The isolates M12/03 and M24/06 showed significant mutations associated with reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin.
- Previous outbreaks have indicated a trend of increasing ciprofloxacin resistance in Neisseria meningitidis since 1992.
- Serogroup A accounted for only 1.9% of all meningococcal isolates in Israel from 1997 to 2006.
Takeaway
Some germs that cause meningitis in Israel are becoming less affected by a medicine called ciprofloxacin, which is used to treat infections.
Methodology
The study involved comparing clinical isolates of Neisseria meningitidis with reduced ciprofloxacin susceptibility to fully susceptible strains using Etest and analyzing mutations in specific genes.
Limitations
The study is limited by the small number of isolates and the specific geographic focus on Israel.
Participant Demographics
The isolates were from individuals in Israel, including recent immigrants from Russia and Romania.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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