We have shown that microdialysis sampling is a suitable tool for measuring drug concentrations in human muscle and subcutaneous tissues. Microdialysis is readily applicable, relatively noninvasive, and reproducible. This technique may become a valuable addition for pharmacokinetic characterization of selected drugs.

No abstract

These preliminary results demonstrate the broad antimicrobial properties of Akacid plus, which makes it a promising tool for topical application in the prophylaxis and treatment of bacterial and fungal infections.

The purpose of the present study was to determine the antimicrobial resistance among Streptococcus pyogenes in Bavaria, Germany. Five hundred and forty isolates of S. pyogenes were collected from patients with tonsillopharyngitis. Of these, 425 isolates were obtained from children and 115 from adult patients. All isolates were tested for susceptibility to macrolides, clindamycin, penicillin and 10 other commonly prescribed antimicrobial agents, using broth microdilution tests. All isolates were fully susceptible to penicillin, amoxicillin and cephalosporins; 16.1% of the isolates were resistant to tetracycline. MIC(90) values of erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin and josamycin were 16, 4, 16 and 0.5 mg/L. The overall resistance rate of S. pyogenes to erythromycin, clarithromycin and azithromycin was 13.3%. All isolates resistant to erythromycin were also resistant to clarithromycin and azithromycin, and vice versa. Erythromycin resistance rates were higher in adult patients (19.1%) than in children (11.8%). The resistance rate to josamycin was only 1.5%, a value similar to that of clindamycin (1.1%). Among the 72 erythromycin-resistant isolates the M phenotype of macrolide resistance predominated (78%), while percentages of cMLS(B) (8%) and iMLS(B) (14%) phenotypes were low. Of the iMLS(B) strains (n = 10), the majority were of the subtype C (n = 8). The M phenotype was associated with a low, and the iMLS(B)-C phenotype with a high, rate of resistance to tetracycline. Conclusively, present data point to rising macrolide resistance among S. pyogenes in Bavaria.

This study demonstrates the rising prevalence of resistance among S. pneumoniae not only to penicillin but also to other antimicrobials. It also shows the value of telithromycin as an attractive option for the empirical treatment of community-acquired RTIs in an era of widespread antibacterial resistance.