[Pneumococcal antibiotic resistance in 1999. Results from 19 registries for 1999]

BETA-LACTAM RESISTANCE: Among the 9956 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated in adults, 39% had some degree of penicillin resistance (reduced susceptibility), but there were relatively few strains highly resistant to penicillin: 10%. Among the 4422 strains isolated in children, the overall rate of penicillin resistance was higher (51%) with 15% highly resistant strains. For amoxicillin, the rate of reduced susceptibility was 25% while 1.4% were amoxicillin-resistant. For ceftaxime the respective figures were 21% and 0.3% OTHER ANTIBIOTIC FAMILIES: Important reduction in the susceptibility of all strains, more pronounced for peni-R strains, for macrolides, cotrimoxazole, tetracyxine and chloramphenicol. Very rare resistance to rifampicin and intact susceptibility to vancomycin. CHILDREN VERSUS ADULTS: The rate of reduced susceptibility to beta-lactams was higher in children: 31% versus 23% for amoxicillin and 21% versus 14% for cefotaxime. However there were only a few rare strains that were amoxicillin and cefotaxime resistant. Unlike what was observed in adults, there were major differences by site of sampling; strains isolated from purulent middle ear fluid exhibited the strongest resistance.