Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Enterococci in Thailand from 2000 to 2005
Leelaowadee Sangsuk MSc*, Surang Dejsirilert MSc*, Pathom Sawanpanyalert MD, DrPH*, Nalinee Aswapokee MD***, Tavatchai Jariyasethpong MD**
Affiliation : * National Institute of Health, Department of Medical Sciences, Nonthaburi, Thailand ** Rajavithi Hospital, College of Medicine, Rangsit University, Bangkok, Thailand *** Unit of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Internal Medicine, Siriraj University Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : To determine the trends of antimicrobial susceptibility of enterococci in Thailand from 2000 to
2005
Material and Method: All enterococcal isolates from sterile site obtained from 28 hospitals in Thailand from
2000 to 2005 were tested for their susceptibility to ampicillin, high-level gentamicin, and vancomycin by the
disk diffusion (Kirby Bauer) method. The relevant data were collected and analyzed by WHONET software
program supported by the World Health Organization.
Results : Enterooccus faecalis (47%) and E. faecium (23%) were the two most frequent enterococcal isolates.
There was no trend of increasing resistance to ampicillin, high level gentamicin, and vancomycin among E.
faecalis isolates during the study period. There was a trend of an increasing resistance to ampicillin and
high-level gentamicin among E. faecium isolates. Among E. faecium, the rates of vancomycin resistance were
very low, ranging from 0.5% to 1.9%, and there was no trend of increasing rates of resistance.
Conclusion : In the present study, there is a trend of decreasing susceptibility to ampicillin and high-level
gentamicin in E. faecium. In contrast, there is no trend of increasing resistance to vancomycin. This would
have effects on selection of empirical antimicrobial treatment on enterococcal infections especially a decision
to use ampicillin or gentamicin.
Keywords : Anti-infective agents, Drug resistance, microbial, Enterococcus, Microbial sensitivity tests, Thailand, Vancomycin resistance
