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Antimicrobial resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae, Taiwan
1National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. hsporen@ha.mc.ntu.edu.tw
Emerging Infectious Diseases
|December 25, 2002
Summary
Antibiotic resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae is a significant global health concern. Taiwan faces high rates of drug-resistant pneumococcus, impacting treatment of common infections.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Antimicrobial Resistance
Background:
- Taiwan exhibits high rates of antibiotic-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae globally.
- Resistance to penicillin was first observed in Taiwan in 1986.
- By 1995, increased resistance to multiple antibiotics and multidrug resistance emerged.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document the trends and characteristics of antibiotic resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae in Taiwan.
- To highlight the emergence of novel resistance patterns and the impact of specific clones.
Main Methods:
- Surveillance of pneumococcal isolates.
- Monitoring of antibiotic susceptibility patterns.
- Tracking of specific resistant clones (e.g., 23F, 19F).
Main Results:
- Sustained high-level resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics.
- Continued increase in macrolide resistance.
- Emergence of fluoroquinolone resistance in recent years.
- Widespread distribution of novel resistant 23F and 19F clones.
Conclusions:
- Antibiotic selective pressure drives increasing resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae.
- The spread of specific resistant clones exacerbates the resistance problem.
- Antibiotic resistance in this key pathogen poses a serious threat to public health, particularly for community-acquired infections and meningitis.