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[Penicillin-resistant pneumococcus: practical implications]
1Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
Jornal De Pediatria
|December 20, 2003
Summary
Penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae is increasingly common, impacting childhood infections like otitis media and meningitis. Prudent antibiotic use and conjugate vaccines are crucial for managing drug-resistant pneumococcus.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of pediatric infections, including otitis media, pneumonia, and meningitis.
- Historically susceptible to penicillin, pneumococcus now exhibits rapidly increasing resistance to penicillin and other beta-lactams.
- Drug resistance complicates the clinical management of pneumococcal infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the epidemiology, laboratory findings, and clinical aspects of penicillin-resistant pneumococcus.
- To assess the impact of rising antimicrobial resistance on managing key pneumococcal infections.
- To discuss mechanisms of resistance and diagnostic approaches.
Main Methods:
- Bibliographic review of the past ten years.
- Utilized Medline database and direct research for literature retrieval.
Main Results:
- Penicillin resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae has significantly increased over the last three decades.
- Resistance patterns parallel those observed for other beta-lactams and antimicrobials.
- New empirical therapeutic regimens for meningitis are recommended based on local resistance rates.
Conclusions:
- Rising drug resistance necessitates judicious antibiotic use.
- Development of a conjugate vaccine is important for preventing invasive pneumococcal infections and reducing carriage rates.
- Vaccination can protect infants and reduce the overall burden of pneumococcal disease.