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Macrolide-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae and use of antimicrobial agents

M Pihlajamäki1, P Kotilainen, T Kaurila

  • 1National Public Health Institute, Antimicrobial Research Laboratory, Kiinanmyllynkatu 13, 20520 Turku, Finland. mapihla@utu.fi

Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
|July 20, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Antimicrobial resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae is rising. In Finland, macrolide-resistant pneumococci significantly correlated with macrolide use, highlighting a global health concern.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Epidemiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Increasing global prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus).
  • Need to understand the relationship between regional antimicrobial agent use and pneumococcal resistance patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlation between regional antimicrobial resistance of pneumococci and regional antimicrobial agent usage in Finland.
  • To identify specific antimicrobial agents associated with increased resistance in pneumococcal isolates.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 6106 pneumococcal isolates from Finnish clinical microbiology laboratories in 1997.
  • Comparison of regional pneumococcal resistance data with regional antimicrobial agent use data from 1995-1996.
  • Statistical analysis to determine correlations between resistance and usage patterns.

Main Results:

  • A highly significant correlation was observed between macrolide resistance in pneumococci and macrolide usage (P=.006).
  • A significant correlation was found between trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole resistance and its usage (P=.043).
  • No correlation was found between penicillin resistance and the use of any tested antimicrobial agent.

Conclusions:

  • Regional macrolide use is strongly associated with the emergence of macrolide-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae.
  • The findings underscore the importance of monitoring antimicrobial use to combat rising resistance, particularly for macrolides used in respiratory infections.
  • Further research and antimicrobial stewardship are crucial to mitigate the spread of resistant pneumococcal strains.

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