M032: INCREASED ISOLATION OF UNCOMMON MULTIRESISTANT NON-FERMENTING ORGANISMS IN CYSTIC FIBROSIS
M.L.Belli . G.Manno, E.Ugolotti, M.L.Fenu, B.Tubino* and C.Jannuzzi.(II Dept. of Infectious Diseases ,* Dept. of Paediatrics University of Genoa "G.Gaslini" Institute - Genoa, Italy.)

Some non fermenting organisms (NFO) other than P.aeruginosa and B.cepacia are rarely reported as pathogenic as they are not isolated very often from the sputum of Cystic Fibrosis patients (pts): usually they are present in a low number and their isolation is difficult .

The isolation of uncommon NFO from clinical specimens can depend upon the use of selective media .In our center ,in 1992 , we introduced in the routine laboratory practice ,in addition to McConkey agar, a medium ( Eosin Metilen Blue agar - Difco ) made selective by the supplementation with antibiotics (aminoglycosides, vancomycin and amphotericin B ) ,with the aim to increase the isolation of uncommon NFO . We reviewed microbiological data collected between 1992 and 1994 and we found an increased isolation of NFO as shown in the following table ( n = number of strains; % = percentage related to total isolated strains )


                X.malthophilis    A.sylososidans   other*          

                n          %       n        %        n        %       

1992            15         1.8     27       3.2      14       1.3     

1993            29         3.7     29       3.7      11       1.8     

1994            49         3.8     62       4.8      20       2       



Alcaligens spp, Alcaligenes denitrdicans, Commamonas acidovorans, Ocrobactum anthropi, Flavobacteriurn spp., CDC IV-C2, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus ,P.fluorescens /putida.

These NFO are in general multiresistant, particularly to aminoglycosides The following table shows the % of resistance:

n°strain tobra    cipro    azthr    unipen    ceftaz   cefope   cefbro   pipera   
s                                                                                 

XM  78   100      67,5     93,5     90.9      53       64       100      53,2     

AX   91  100      77       95,6     7.7       44       37.4     95,6     19,8     

other    74.2     32,2     74,2     6,4       38,7     45.1     87       35,5     
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