Enterococci from Bangkok, Thailand, with high-level resistance to currently available aminoglycosides

Abstract

Strains from a geographic area where newer aminoglycosides have been less commonly used [Bangkok, Thailand] were examined. Of 125 patient isolates, 18 (14%) were resistant to > 2000 .mu.g/ml of gentamicin and most other aminoglycosides. Four of these strains transferred gentamicin resistance to a laboratory recipient. One strain was resistant to synergism between penicillin and gentamicin, tobramycin, kanamycin, streptomycin and amikacin and demonstrated the following enzymatic activities: 3''- and 2''''-aminoglycoside phosphotransferases, 6''-aminoglycoside acetyltransferase and adenylylation of streptomycin. Optimal therapy for endocarditis caused by such highly resistant strains is currently unknown.