Comparative activity of carbapenem testing (the COMPACT study) in Turkey

Ten centres in Turkey were invited to submit Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacteriaceae, and other Gram-negative isolates from intensive care unit (ICU)/non-ICU patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections, bloodstream infections, or nosocomial pneumonia, including ventilator-associated pneumonia, between May and October 2008. Susceptibility was determined by each centre using E-test. A central laboratory performed species confirmation as well as limited susceptibility and quality-control testing.Five hundred and ninety six isolates were collected. MIC90 values for doripenem, meropenem, and imipenem, respectively, were 32, ≥ 64, and ≥ 64 mg/L against Pseudomonas spp.; 0.12, 0.12, and 0.5 mg/L against Enterobacteriaceae; and ≥ 64 mg/L for each against other Gram-negative isolates. In determining the susceptibility of hospital isolates of selected Gram-negative pathogens to doripenem, imipenem, and meropenem, we found that against all pathogens combined, the MIC90 for ICU compared with non-ICU isolates was higher.Doripenem showed similar or slightly better activity than meropenem and better activity than imipenem against the Gram-negative pathogens collected in Turkey.Modified treatment practices towards improving in-hospital patient care and reducing the development and spread of resistant strains begin with the surveillance of known infection-causing pathogens. Isolates of particular importance within the hospital setting are Pseudomonas spp. and Enterobacteriaceae, as well as other Gram negatives such as Acinetobacter baumannii (A.baumannii). Recent evidence indicates these pathogens are common causes of infection, including complicated intra-abdominal infection (cIAI), blood stream infection (BSI), and nosocomial pneumonia (NP). Escherichia coli (E. coli), for example, is the most common cause of BSIs in England, accounting for 18% of such infections [1]. Surveillance results from the 2007 Meropenem Yearly Susceptibility Test Information Collection (MYSTIC