The in vitro susceptibility of 20 medical isolates of Scedosporium prolificans to ajoene, allitridium and raw garlic extract derived from cloves of garlic (Allium sativum) was tested using the NCCLS reference method (with minor modifications) for broth microdilution. The results demonstrate that both garlic derivatives and raw garlic extract appear to have in vitro activity against S. prolificans.

The utility of Etest for antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Yersinia pestis was evaluated in comparison with broth microdilution and disk diffusion for eight agents. Four laboratories tested 26 diverse strains and found Etest to be reliable for testing antimicrobial agents used to treat Y. pestis, except for chloramphenicol and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Disk diffusion testing is not r...

The agar dilution, broth microdilution, and disk diffusion methods were compared to determine the in vitro susceptibility of 428 extended-spectrum-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae to fosfomycin. Fosfomycin showed very high activity against all ESBL-producing strains. Excellent agreement between the three susceptibility methods was found for E. coli, whereas ...

The present study was aimed to compare the binding ability of selected chemicals (adjuvants) in 23 glycocalyx positive Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. Fractional inhibitory concentration indexes (FICindex) and drug uptake study were conducted using selected adjuvants. Whole-cell alkaline phosphatase assay was used for assessment of outer membrane permeability. FICindex was calculated using a m...

The agar dilution, broth microdilution, and disk diffusion methods were compared to determine the in vitro susceptibility of 428 extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae to fosfomycin. Fosfomycin showed very high activity against all ESBL-producing strains. Excellent agreement between the three susceptibility methods was found for E. coli, whe...

In vitro interaction of fluconazole and berberine chloride was investigated against 40 fluconazole-resistant clinical isolates of Candida albicans. Synergism in fungistatic activity was found with the checkerboard microdilution assay. The findings of agar diffusion tests and time-kill curves confirmed the synergistic interaction, but no antagonistic action was observed.

The MICs of imipenem and piperacillin, alone and in combination, against Pseudomonas aeruginosa were determined in a checkerboard titration microdilution assay. A dramatic, one-way antagonism of imipenem for piperacillin was demonstrated in 28 of the 35 strains examined; antagonism was associated with the induction of a beta-lactamase.

The in vitro activities of isepamicin against 117 Mycobacteria abscessus, 48 Mycobacterium fortuitum, and 20 Mycobacterium chelonae isolates were evaluated by a microdilution test. Isepamicin MIC(90)s were < or =16 microg/ml for the three species. Isepamicin was as active as amikacin and kanamycin and more active than tobramycin, capreomycin, gentamicin, and streptomycin.

The activity of the new fluoroquinolone gatifloxacin was compared with those of other quinolones and antimicrobial agents of other classes against 294 anaerobes by the broth microdilution technique. For all strains tested, gatifloxacin MICs at which 50 and 90% of the isolates were inhibited were 0.5 and 2 mg/liter, respectively, and were 3 to 4 dilution steps lower than, e.g., ciprofloxacin.

Twenty-three isolates of Staphylococcus aureus resistant to methicillin have been analyzed, being found a clinical isolate of VISA through microdilution technique. The others techniques were unable to detect such isolates. This is the first study that shows the presence of VISA in clinical isolates in the city of Santa Maria-RS.