Longitudinal European surveillance study of antibiotic resistance of Haemophilus influenzae.

Objectives: We assessed the current resistance rates of Haemophilus influenzae against beta-lactams and other agents in Europe and compared the results with those of our previously performed surveillance study.

Methods: MICs of the antibiotics were determined using broth microdilution. The penicillin-binding domain of PBP3 of beta-lactamase (BL)-negative, amoxicillin-resistant (BLNAR) isolates was sequenced.

Novel mobile variants of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec in Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec type IV (SSCmec IV) is associated with virulent community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and frequent horizontal transfer among staphylococci. To gain insight into the mechanism of transfer, we studied the ccrA/B type 2 recombinase-mediated excision of SCCmec IV (n = 5 strains) and SCCmec II (n = 2). In SCCmec IV- but not SCCmec II-containing strains, spontaneous excision of the cassette was observed.