EMERGENCE OF RESISTANCE TO ERYTHROMYCIN AND FLUOROQUINOLONES IN THERMOTOLERANT CAMPYLOBACTER STRAINS ISOLATED FROM FECES 1987-1991

During the period 1987 to 1991 a retrospective study was performed to determine the resistance of thermotolerant Campylobacter species isolated from feces to erythromycin and fluoroquinolones. Of the 672 strains studied, 614 (91.3 %) were identified as Campylobacter jejuni and 58 (8.7 %) as Campylobacter coli. During the study period the rate of resistance of Campylobacter jejuni to erythromycin remained relatively stable (0.9-3.5 %), while resistance of Campylobacter coli to erythromycin emerged later (1989) with much higher rates (14.8-33 %). Overall, 11.8 % and 10.7 % of Campylobacter jejuni strains isolated after 1987 were resistant to nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin respectively, resistance increasing from 2.3 % in 1988 to 32 % in 1991. In 1991 the first strains of Campylobacter coli with resistance to these fluoroquinolones were detected (rates 29 % and 26 % respectively). Of the strains resistant to nalidixic acid, only 10.9 % were susceptible to ciprofloxacin.