Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Resistance to 5-Nitroimidazoles in Pathogenic Microorganisms

  • Chapter
Nitroimidazoles

Part of the book series: NATO Advanced Study Institutes Series ((NSSA,volume 42))

Abstract

Resistance (lowered susceptibility) to metronidazole and other 5-nitroimidazoles occurs, albeit infrequently, in clinical isolates of the normally susceptible anaerobic microorganisms, Trichomonas vaginalis and Bacteroides spp. Such resistance has been induced by in vivo drug pressure in T. vaginalis and Tritrichomonas foetus and by in vitro drug pressure in B. fragilis. All organisms studied showed cross-resistance to other 5-nitro-imidazoles expressed to a different degree. The detection of resistance depends on the assay method used. The mechanism of resistance in natural isolates and in strains of trichomonads developed in vivo is unknown but seems to be connected with aerobic conditions. Resistance of in vitro developed T. foetus strains and of all B. fragilis strains studied is related to a decreased activity of pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, responsible for the metabolic activation of 5-nitroimidazoles.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. J. G. Meingassner and J. Thurner, Strain of Trichomonas vaginalis resistant to metronidazole and other 5-nitro- imidazoles, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 15: 254 (1979).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. J. G. Meingassner, L. Havelec, and H. Mieth, Studies on strain sensitivity of Trichomonas vaginalis to metronidazole, Brit. J. Vener. Pis. 54: 72 (1978).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. M. Müller, J. G. Meingassner, W. A. Miller and W. J. Ledger, Three metronidazole-resistant strains of Trichomonas vaginalis from the USA, Am. J. Obst. Gyn. (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  4. F. Benazet and L. Guillaume, Induction of in vivo resistance of Trichomonas vaginalis to nitrimidazine, Lancet 2: 982 (1971).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. J. Thurner and J. G. Meingassner, Isolation of Trichomonas vaginalis resistant to metronidazole, Lancet 2: 738 (1978).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. A. Forsgren and L. Forssman, Metronidazole-resistant Trichomonas vaginalis, Brit. J. Vener. Dis. 55: 351 (1979).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. J. G. Meingassner and H. Mieth, Cross-resistance of trichomonads to 5-nitroimidazole-derivatives, Experientia 23: 183 (1976).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. A. Čerkasovovà, J. Cerkasov, J. Kulda and P.Demes, Metronidazole action on Tritrichomonas foetus: enzyme activities in the strains of a different resistance to the drug in: “The Host-Invader Interplay. Third International Symposium on the Physiology of Parasites and Host-Parasite Relationships”, H. van den Bossche, ed., Elsevier/North-Holland Biomedical Press, Amsterdam (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  9. M. L. Britz and R. G. Wilkinson, Isolation and properties of metronidazole-resistant mutants of Bacteroides fragilis, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 16: 19 (1979).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. M. Mtiller, Mode of action of metronidazole on anaerobic microorganisms, in: “Metronidazole: Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on Anaerobic Infections, Series No.18”, I. Phillips and J. Collier, eds., The Royal Society of Medicine, London (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  11. B.M. Honigberg, Trichomonads of importance in human medicine, in: “Parasitic Protozoa, Vol.11”, J.P. Kreier, ed., Academic Press, New York (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  12. I. de Carneri, Perspectives in the treatment of protozoal diseases resistant to metronidazole, Trans. Roy. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. 65: 268 (1971).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. I. de Carneri and F. Trane, In vivo resistance to metronidazole induced on four recently isolated strains of Trichomonas vaginalis, Drug Res. 21: 377 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  14. P. Durel, J. Couture and M.T. Bassoullet, Commentaires sur deux cas de vaginite a T. vaginalis guéris avec difficulté par le métronidazole, Wiad. Parazytol. 12: 422 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  15. P. Actor, D.S. Ziv and J. F. Pagano, Resistance to metronidazole by Tritrichomonas foetus in hamsters infected intravaginally, Science 164: 439 (1969).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. E. Shelagh, E. Milne, J. Stokes and P.M. Waterworth, Incomplete anaerobiosis as a cause of metronidazole ‘resistance’. J. Clin. Pathol. 31: 933 (1978).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. J. G. Meingassner, H. Mieth, R. Czok, D.G. Lindmark and M. Müller, Assay conditions and the demonstration of nitro- imidazole resistance to Tritrichomonas foetus. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 13: 1 (1978).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. E. D. Ralph and D. A. Clarke, Inactivation of metronidazole by anaerobic and aerobic bacteria, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 14: 377 (1978).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. B. Korner and H. K. Jensen, Sensitivity of Trichomonas vaginalis to metronidazole, tinidazole, and nifuratel in vitro, Brit. J. Vener. Pis. 52: 404 (1976).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. G. W. Houghton, P. S. Thorne, J. Smith, R. Templeton and J. Collier, Comparison of the pharmacokinetics of metronidazole in healthy female volunteers following either a single oral or intravenous dose, Br. J. Clin. Pharmac. 8: 337 (1979).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. E. D. Ralph and M. M. Kirby, Human pharmacology of oral metronidazole as determined by bioassay, in: “Metronidazole: Proceedings of the International Metronidazole Conference, Montreal, Quebec, Canada”, S. M. Finegold, ed., Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  22. R. Templeton, Metabolism and pharmacokinetics of metronidazoles a review, in “Metronidazole: Proceedings of the International Metronidazole Conference, Montreal, Quebec, Canada”, S.M. Finegold, ed., Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  23. F. D. Gillin and L. S. Diamond, Clonal growth of Entamoeba histolytica in agar, J. Protozool 41: 317 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  24. L. Jokipii and A. M. Jokipii, In vitro susceptibility of Giardia lamblia trophozoites to metronidazole and tinidazole, J. Infect. Dis. 141: 317 (1980).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. H. R. Ingram, S. Eaton, C. W. Venables and P. C. Adams, Bacteroides fragilis resistant to metronidazole after long term therapy, Lancet 1: 214 (1978).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. V. O. Rotimi, B. I. Duerden, V. Ede and A. E. MacKinnon, Metronidazole-resistant bacteroides from untreated patient, Lancet 1: 833 (1979).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. B. M. Honigberg and M. C. Livingston, In vitro sensitivity of Trichomonas vaginalis to metronidazole, Proc. First Int. Congr. Parasitol. 1: 365 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  28. A. Čerkasovova and J. Čerkasov, Absence of pyruvate splitting processes in Tritrichomonas foetus resistant to metronidazole, J. Protozool. 25: 34A (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  29. F. P. Tally, D. R. Snydman, M. J. Shimell and B. R. Goldin, Mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance of Bacteroides fragilis, in: “Metronidazole: Royal Society of Medicine International Congress and Symposium Series No.18”, I. Phillips and J. Collier, eds., The Royal Society of Medicine, London (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  30. A. Čerkasovová, J. Čerkasov and J. Kulda, Ethanol formation in the cell of Tritrichomonas foetus, J. Protozool. 26: 39A (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  31. M. Müller, Physiological studies on Trichomonas vaginalis with lowered susceptibility to metronidazole, J. Protozool. 27: 26A (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  32. M. Müller and D. G. Lindmark, Uptake of metronidazole and its effect on viability in trichomonads and Entamoeba invadens under anaerobic and aerobic conditions, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 9: 696 (1976).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. J. A. McFadzean, I. M. Pugh, S. L. Squires, and J.P.F. Whelan, Further observations on strain sensitivity of Trichomonas vaginalis to metronidazole, Brit. J. Vener. Dis. 45: 161 (1969).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. P. I. Edwards, E. J. Thompson, J. Tomusange, and P. Hanson, Inactivation of metronidazole by aerobic organisms, J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 5: 315 (1979).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Rockefeller University, New York, N.Y., 10021, USA

    Miklos Müller

Authors
  1. Miklos Müller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    A. Breccia

  2. Gruppo Lepetit SpA, Milan, Italy

    B. Cavalleri

  3. Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, England

    G. E. Adams

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1982 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Müller, M. (1982). Resistance to 5-Nitroimidazoles in Pathogenic Microorganisms. In: Breccia, A., Cavalleri, B., Adams, G.E. (eds) Nitroimidazoles. NATO Advanced Study Institutes Series, vol 42. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4151-2_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4151-2_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-4153-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-4151-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation