In vitro activities of retapamulin and 16 other antimicrobial agents against recently obtained Streptococcus pyogenes isolates.

Retapamulin in vitro activity against 400 Streptococcus pyogenes clinical isolates obtained from skin, pharynx, ear fluid, and blood samples recovered from 2007 to 2009 was studied. The isolates belonged to 26 different emm types, including isolates nonsusceptible to erythromycin (n=187), tetracycline (n=99), ciprofloxacin (n=59), and bacitracin (n=43). Results were compared to the activities of 16 other antibiotics for topical and systemic use. Retapamulin MICs ranged from ≤0.015 to 0.12 μg/ml, showing the highest intrinsic activity among the topical antimicrobial drugs studied.