@article{3116079,
    title = "Differences in the evolution of imipenem susceptibility among Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Escherichia coli isolates during a 6-year period in a
tertiary care hospital",
    author = "Papaparaskevas, Joseph and Pantazatou, Angeliki and Stefanou, Ioanna and and Mela, Victoria and Galatidis, Nikolaos and Avlamis, Athina",
    journal = "International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents",
    year = "2007",
    volume = "29",
    number = "2",
    pages = "197-200",
    publisher = "ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV",
    issn = "0924-8579",
    doi = "10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2006.09.010",
    keywords = "imipenem; susceptibility; Escherichia coli; Klebsiella pneumoniae;
WHONET; surveillance",
    abstract = "The evolution of imipenem disk-diffusion susceptibility results of 2652
strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae and 7596 Escherichia coli isolated
during the period 2000-2005 were analysed. Screening for production of
metallo-beta-lactamases was performed using the EDTA-synergy method. The
percentage rate of K. pneumoniae isolates having a zone diameter <= 25
mm increased from 20% in 2000 to 41% in 2005, whereas the respective
rate of isolates having a zone diameter >= 30 mm decreased from 48 to
23%. These changes were more evident during 2000-2002, followed in 2003
by the isolation of the first imipenem-resistant strains. Regarding E.
coli, a similar decrease was observed (the rates of isolates having a
zone diameter <= 25 mm and >= 30 mm changed from 7% and 68% in 2000,
to 32% and 36% in 2005, respectively) following the respective changes
of K. pneumoniae. A total of 20 K. pneumoniae strains, but no E. coli,
were confirmed as metalto-beta-lactamase producers. In conclusion, a
decrease of the imipenem susceptibility prior to the isolation of the
first resistant strains in a tertiary care hospital was detected, as
well as differences in this decrease between the two species. These
findings indicate that monitoring of the evolution of imipenem
susceptibility in real-time may help in unveiling forthcoming resistance
and in implementing the appropriate diagnostic techniques. (c) 2006
Elsevier B.V. and the International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights
reserved."
}