Antimicrobial susceptibility of anaerobic bacteria in Belgium as determined by E-test methodology.

The objective was to collect recent data on the antibiotic susceptibility of clinically significant anaerobes in Belgium. A total of 333 anaerobic clinical isolates from various body sites were prospectively collected between 2005 and 2007 at two tertiary care hospitals in Belgium. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using the E-test method for nine anti-anaerobic antibiotics.

Prevalence and mechanisms of resistance to fluoroquinolones in Helicobacter pylori strains from patients living in Belgium.

Background: Because of the increasing resistance of Helicobacter pylori against metronidazole and clarithromycin, alternative regimens including newer fluoroquinolones have been developed. We aimed to assess the prevalence as well as the mechanisms of this resistance in clinical isolates originating from patients living in Belgium.

Methods: Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and moxifloxacin were determined by Etest method on 488 H.

Evaluation of the Abbott LCx Mycobacterium tuberculosis assay for direct detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in human samples.

Seven hundred thirty-seven clinical samples from 460 patients were processed for direct detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex by a semiautomated ligase chain reaction commercial assay, the LCx Mycobacterium tuberculosis Assay (LCx assay) from Abbott Laboratories. Results were compared to those of direct microscopy and standard microbiological culture. Of 26 patients (5.