Antimicrobial resistance in invasive strains of Escherichia coli from southern and eastern Mediterranean laboratories

From January 2003 to December 2005, 5091 susceptibility test results from invasive isolates of Escherichia coli, collected from blood cultures and cerebrospinal fluid routinely processed within 58 participating laboratories, were investigated. These laboratories in turn serviced 64 hospitals in Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey. The median proportion of resistance to third-generation cephalosporins for the duration of the project was 18.9% (interquartile range (IQR): 12.5-30.8%), and for fluoroquinolones 21.0% (IQR: 7.7-32.6%). A substantial proportion of strains reported by laboratories in countries east of the Mediterranean exhibited evidence of multiresistance, the highest proportion being from Egypt (31%). There is clearly a need for further investigation of potential causes of the significant resistance identified, as well as for strengthening of national and international surveillance initiatives within this region.;

Antibiotic resistance in the southeastern Mediterranean - preliminary results from the ARMed project

Sporadic reports from centres in the south and east of the Mediterranean have suggested that the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in this region appears to be considerable, yet pan-regional studies using comparable methodology have been lacking in the past. Susceptibility test results from invasive isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecium and faecalis routinely recovered from clinical samples of blood and cerebrospinal fluid within participating laboratories situated in Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey were collected as part of the ARMed project. Preliminary data from the first two years of the project showed the prevalence of penicillin non-susceptibility in S. pneumoniae to range from 0% (Malta) to 36% (Algeria) [median: 29%] whilst methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus varied from 10% in Lebanon to 65% in Jordan [median: 43%]. Significant country specific resistance in E. coli was also seen, with 72% of isolates from Egyptian hospitals reported to be resistant to third generation cephalosporins and 40% non-susceptible to fluoroquinolones in Turkey. Vancomycin non-susceptibility was only reported in 0.9% of E. faecalis isolates from Turkey and in 3.8% of E. faecium isolates from Cyprus. The preliminary results from the ARMed project appear to support previous sporadic reports suggesting high antibiotic resistance in the Mediterranean region. They suggest that this is particularly the case in the eastern Mediterranean region where resistance in S. aureus and E. coli seems to be higher than that reported in the other countries of the Mediterranean.

Antibiotic resistance in the southeastern Mediterranean--preliminary results from the ARMed project

Sporadic reports from centres in the south and east of the Mediterranean have suggested that the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in this region appears to be considerable, yet pan-regional studies using comparable methodology have been lacking in the past. Susceptibility test results from invasive isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecium and faecalis routinely recovered from clinical samples of blood and cerebrospinal fluid within participating laboratories situated in Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey were collected as part of the ARMed project. Preliminary data from the first two years of the project showed the prevalence of penicillin non-susceptibility in S. pneumoniae to range from 0% (Malta) to 36% (Algeria) [median: 29%] whilst methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus varied from 10% in Lebanon to 65% in Jordan [median: 43%]. Significant country specific resistance in E. coli was also seen, with 72% of isolates from Egyptian hospitals reported to be resistant to third generation cephalosporins and 40% non-susceptible to fluoroquinolones in Turkey. Vancomycin non-susceptibility was only reported in 0.9% of E. faecalis isolates from Turkey and in 3.8% of E. faecium isolates from Cyprus. The preliminary results from the ARMed project appear to support previous sporadic reports suggesting high antibiotic resistance in the Mediterranean region. They suggest that this is particularly the case in the eastern Mediterranean region where resistance in S. aureus and E. coli seems to be higher than that reported in the other countries of the Mediterranean.

EARSS activities and results: update

(And with EARSS participants) The latest EARSS results (1990-2000) suggest that the rates of methicillin resistant S. aureus and Penicillin Non Susceptible S. pneumoniae are higher in southern European countries than in the North. Young children, followed by elderly people are the most at risk for an infection by PNSP. The risk to be infected by methicillin resistant S. aureus increases with age, patients hospitalised in intensive care units being more exposed to that risk.

Detecting changes in one's own velocity from the optic flow

Experiments were designed to establish whether we can use the optic flow to detect changes in our own velocity. Subjects were presented with simulations of forward motion across a flat surface. They were asked to respond as quickly as possible to a step increase in simulated ego-velocity. The smallest change for which subjects could respond within 500 ms was determined. At realistic simulated speeds of locomotion, the simulated ego-velocity had to increase by about 50%. The threshold for detecting changes in simulated ego-velocity was hardly better than the threshold for detecting other changes in the acceleration of the dots on the screen. It made little difference whether the surface across which the subject appeared to move was built up of dots, lines, or triangles; neither did it matter whether subjects saw the same image with both eyes, or whether the simulation was presented in stereoscopic depth. The results show that we are very poor at detecting changes in our own velocity on the basis of visual input alone.