ARS | Publication request: CHARACTERIZATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AMONG PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA ISOLATES RECOVERED FROM COMPANION ANIMALS, 1994-2003

Submitted to: National Foundation for Infectious Disease
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 7, 2004
Publication Date: June 28, 2004
Citation: Beier, R.C., White, D.G., McDermott, P.F., Foley, S.L., Zhao, S., Hume, M.E., Poole, T.L., Nisbet, D.J., Walker, R.D. 2004. Characterization of antimicrobial resistance among Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates recovered from companion animals, 1994-2003 [abstract]. 2004 Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance. p. 40.

Technical Abstract: Background: Several fluoroquinolones are currently approved in the United States for treatment of skin and associated soft tissue infection. However, increasing reports of resistance among P. aeruginosa isolates associated with canine otitis may affect the choice of antimicrobials for systemic administration in companion animals. Here we evaluated the susceptibility of P. aeruginosa isolates recovered from companion animals across the U.S. from 1994-2003 to determine shifts in susceptibility among veterinary and human use antimicrobials, including several fluoroquinolones. Methods: One hundred seventy-seven P. aeruginosa isolates collected primarily from dogs (n = 155) and eight other animals from sixteen states during 1994-2003 were tested for susceptibility to antimicrobials of human and veterinary importance using NCCLS broth microdilution methods. Results: The majority of P. aeruginosa isolates (75-100%) were resistant to most of the antimicrobials tested, including chloramphenicol (99%), tetracycline (98%), kanamycin (80%), sulfamethoxazole (77%), ceftriaxone (69%). Resistance was also observed to gentamicin (9%) and several fluoroquinolones including enrofloxacin (45%), orbifloxacin (44%), difloxacin (38%), ciprofloxacin (5%). There did not appear to be an overall increasing rate of resistance to fluoroquinolones among P. aeruginosa isolates with the exception of two time periods, 1994-1996, and 2000. Conclusions: Observed rates of resistance to several antimicrobials merit sustained surveillance of companion animal isolates to detect emerging antimicrobial resistance phenotypes and empirical treatment of P. aeruginosa infections may be problematic.