Ongoing projects
- Members of ESGAI are participating in the EUCAST Subcommittee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Anaerobic Bacteria. The composition of the Subcommittee has been changed recently. Ulrik S. Justesen (Odense, DK) has joined the official members of the subcommittee and together with Luc Dubreuil (Lille, FR) and Elisabeth Nagy (Szeged, HU) are further working on EUCAST break points for anaerobic bacteria. There is also an ongoing work on the evaluation of the possible use of the disc diffusion test for anaerobes, which can grow in 24 hours in a proper anaerobic environment. We encourage all colleagues who carry out resistance determination of anaerobic bacteria by Etest methodology to send in their data for the EUCAST wild type data base.
- During the Third Study on Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Bacteroides fragilis Group isolates in Europe (published in CMI 2011) more that 800 clinically relevant strains of Bacteroides genus were collected from 12 European countries. A detailed study is going on using selected isolates (more than 200 strains of this collection) by molecular methods to see the distribution of the different resistance and virulence genes (including IS elements) among Bacteroides isolates from different parts of Europe.
- As the number of carbapenem and metronidazole non-susceptible Bacteroides strains is increasing and cfiA and nim genes are not always responsible for this, a new study was started at the end of 2011 involving all interested members of ESGAI to join and collect Bacteroides fragilis group strains from clinically relevant samples which have MIC >4 microg/ml imipenem/meropenem or metronidazole strains with hetero-resistance to any of carbapenems or metronidazole will also be collected. If you are interested in this study, contact Elisabeth Nagy (Szeged, HU) for detailed description of the protocol.
- A new topic was suggested by an oral microbiologist who recently joined the Study Group. We would like to investigate the biofilm lifestyle of anaerobes and how it contributes to resistance. In present time very little has been done on how biofilm formation of anaerobic bacteria contributes to their antibiotic resistance. The oral cavity is one of the natural environments for anaerobic biofilms but the topic would be open to anyone with interest in anaerobes (not just to oral microbiologists). Those who are interested in this topic should contact Riina Richardson (Manchester, UK) for detailed description of the study.
- The new protein-based identification of bacteria with the use of MALDI-TOF MS opens new ways for the rapid identification of anaerobic bacteria as well. This is a very promising method for anaerobes as most of them are slow growing, inactive in biochemical tests and recently several taxonomic changes occurred, which make identification even more difficult. ESGAI initiates a study to improve the data base of Biotyper (Bruker) for the wide variety of clinically relevant anaerobes. Interested laboratories who have the proper facilities to isolate clinically relevant anaerobic bacteria and use the MALDI-TOF MS Biotyper for identification can join the study and we ask them to contact Alex W. Friedrich (Groningen, NL) for more detailed description of the study.
- 7 May, 15.30-16.30 (Room Red 2)
ESGAI Business Meeting
All interested persons are cordially invited to join the meeting and plan future ESGAI activities. - 8 May, 9.00-11.00
Symposium "New aspects of antimicrobial treatment of anaerobic infections"
For more details, please check the ECCMID/ICC programme.
The ESCMID Study Group for Antibiotic Resistance of Anaerobic Bacteria (ESGARAB) changed its name to ESCMID Study Group for Anaerobic Infections (ESGAI) in order to better reflect the broader topics in the Group's activities.
Furthermore a new Executive Committee has been elected by the Group's membership.
Role of Anaerobic Bacteria in Infection: Diagnostics, Antibiotic Resistance, New Therapeutic Options
ESGARAB and ESGCD organized this ESCMID PGTW in Groningen, The Netherlands, 22 - 27 March 2010.
