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Penicillin-resistant pneumococci in southern Sweden, 1993-1997
Microbial Drug Resistance (Larchmont, N.Y.)
|May 20, 1999
Summary
Penicillin resistance in pneumococci rose in Sweden but stabilized after 1995, mainly affecting young children. Preventive measures may have curbed further increases in antibiotic resistance.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Penicillin-resistant pneumococci pose a significant public health challenge, particularly in pediatric respiratory tract infections.
- Understanding trends in antibiotic resistance is crucial for effective treatment strategies and public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the trends of penicillin-resistant pneumococci in outpatients with respiratory tract infections in Malmöhus County, Sweden.
- To identify specific pneumococcal groups/types associated with penicillin resistance and their epidemiological dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of nasopharyngeal specimens from outpatients between 1993 and 1995.
- Serotyping and antibiotic susceptibility testing of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates.
- Monitoring of pneumococcal group/type distribution and penicillin resistance prevalence over time.
Main Results:
- Penicillin resistance increased from 3.1% (1993) to 7.6% (1995), then stabilized.
- Children aged 0-6 years accounted for 82-85% of cases with penicillin-resistant strains.
- Specific serotypes (6, 14, 19) showed resistance correlating with prevalence, while others (9, 15, 21, 23) exhibited independent fluctuations, including the emergence of a penicillin-resistant clone 9V.
Conclusions:
- The stabilization of penicillin resistance since 1995 may be linked to implemented preventive strategies.
- Interventions such as day-care measures and reduced antibiotic prescriptions appear effective in controlling resistance.
- Continued surveillance of antibiotic resistance patterns in pneumococci is essential.