Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 26, 2026

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria
11:32

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria

Published on: February 23, 2014

Drug-resistant pneumococcal pneumonia: clinical relevance and related factors

Javier Aspa1, Olga Rajas, Felipe Rodríguez de Castro

  • 1Servicio de Neumologia, Hospital de la Princesa, Madrid, Spain. jaspa@separ.es

Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
|March 5, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Community-acquired pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae shows high resistance to penicillin and erythromycin. However, this antibiotic resistance does not lead to increased patient morbidity.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide.
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae is a primary bacterial pathogen responsible for CAP.
  • Rising antimicrobial resistance poses a challenge to effective CAP treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess current antimicrobial resistance levels of Streptococcus pneumoniae causing CAP.
  • To identify risk factors associated with decreased susceptibility to penicillin and erythromycin.
  • To evaluate the impact of resistance on CAP-related morbidity and mortality.

Main Methods:

  • A multicenter study involving 638 cases of Streptococcus pneumoniae CAP.
  • Determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for penicillin and erythromycin.
  • Logistic regression analysis to identify risk factors for resistance and clinical outcomes.

Main Results:

  • 35.7% of S. pneumoniae isolates showed decreased susceptibility to penicillin (MIC ≥ 0.12 µg/mL).
  • 23.8% exhibited high-level erythromycin resistance (MIC ≥ 128 µg/mL), and 22.2% were multidrug-resistant.
  • Factors like chronic pulmonary disease, HIV infection, and previous hospital admission were linked to penicillin resistance.
  • Previous admission and penicillin MIC ≥ 0.12 µg/mL were associated with erythromycin resistance.
  • Overall mortality was 14.4%; however, resistance did not correlate with increased morbidity, with some severe complications more frequent in susceptible cases.
  • Serotype 19 was predominant among resistant isolates and associated with higher mortality.

Conclusions:

  • High rates of resistance to beta-lactams and macrolides among S. pneumoniae causing CAP persist.
  • Despite high resistance, current data suggest that resistance does not increase overall morbidity in these infections.
  • Risk factors for resistance should be considered in clinical decision-making for CAP management.

More Related Videos

Characterization of Inflammatory Responses During Intranasal Colonization with Streptococcus pneumoniae09:12

Characterization of Inflammatory Responses During Intranasal Colonization with Streptococcus pneumoniae

Published on: January 17, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Pneumonia I: Introduction01:29

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an infection of the lower respiratory tract that leads to inflammation of the lung parenchyma, often resulting in the accumulation of inflammatory exudate in the alveoli and airways. Unlike the watery, low-protein fluid exudate in pulmonary edema, the exudate in this case is a thick fluid rich in immune cells, proteins, and debris produced during infection and inflammation.This impairs gas exchange and can lead to consolidation of lung tissue. The infection may be caused by a...
Pneumonia I: Introduction01:30

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection that targets the lungs, specifically the alveoli. These tiny air sacs, essential for oxygen exchange, become engorged with pus and fluid, severely hindering breathing, decreasing oxygen absorption, and causing significant pain and discomfort during respiration.
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...
Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment01:30

Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment

Pneumonia poses the potential for numerous complications that warrant consideration. These complications include the following:
Atypical Pneumonia01:14

Atypical Pneumonia

Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease include...