Bacteremia may occur after disruption of the oral mucous membrane, particularly after dental treatment. 18 mentally handicapped patients who underwent dental treatment with general anesthesia were included in our study. None of the patients had general illnesses or received antibiotic protection. From each patient several blood samples were drawn aseptically during dental treatment and cultured. The majority of aerobic bacteria recovered belonged to Streptococcus sp and Gemella sp., anaerobic bacteria mainly belonged to Porphyromonas gingivalis and Peptostreptococcus sp. Resistance of the isolated bacteria to penicillin as well as to oxacillin, erythromycin and Co-trimoxazole was substantial. The highest resistance rate could be shown against fucidic acid.

ampicillin 7-8% (6-2% P-lactamase producers and 1-6% nonproducers), tetracycline 2 , chloramphenicol 1.7%, trimethoprim 4.2%, and sulphamethoxazole 3-5%. Of the 87 capsulated strains, 15 produced P-lactamase, nine were resistantto ampicillin but did not produce P3-lactamase, and two strains, one of which produced P-lactamase, were resistant to chloramphenicol and tetracycline.Since 1977 the prevalence ofresistance to ampiciflin, chloramphenicol, and trimethoprim has increased significantly. During

In Greece, the rate of mupirocin-resistant S. aureus has remained low and steady since 1999. The high rate of mupirocin-resistant CoNS (33%) in 2002 was due mainly to clonal dissemination of epidemic hospital clones.

To determine the prevalence of aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes (AMEs) genes and the rate of resistance to amikacin, gentamicin, kanamycin and tobramycin a total of 1228 gene. The rate of resistance as determined by disk diffusion method and Etest was 48.2% for kanamycin, 48.2% for amikacin, 12.9% for tobramycin and 6.3% for gentamicin. MRSA were more resistant than MSSA (92.7% resistant to amikacin and kanamycin, 25% to tobramycin and 12.3% to gentamicin versus 2.6% to amikacin and kanamycin and 0.3% to tobramycin respectively). Vitek 2 P549 card failed to characterize all S. aureus that carried the aph(3')-IIIa gene. Significant differences on the rate of resistance and distribution of AME genes were observed among S. aureus strains originating in different hospitals. On the other hand, 42.8% of S. epidermidis, all methicillin-resistant, carried any AMEs genes; 70% of the positive strains carried the aac(6')-Ie-aph(2") gene in combination with both ant(4')-Ia and aph(3')-IIIa genes, 18% carried the aac(6')-Ie-aph(2") gene with ant(4')-Ia, while, 12% carried the aac(6')-Ie-aph(2") gene with aph(3')-IIIa. The rate of resistance to all aminoglycosides tested was 42.8%; 100% concordance of susceptibility results was observed between those of disk diffusion method, Etest and Vitek 2 P549 card. No significant differences on the rate of resistance or the AME gene distribution among different geographic regions were observed among S. epidermidis strains. These results suggest an alarming rate of aminoglycoside-resistant staphylococciin Greece and the necessity for a continuous surveillance.

A total of 359 vancomycin-resistant enterococci (344 Enterococcus faecium and 15 E. faecalis) collected during 2007 from eight tertiary-care hospitals in Greece were analysed for genotypic characteristics. Four common clones, ST412, ST203, ST16 and ST17, were identified among E. faecium and one clone, ST28, among E. faecalis strains.