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Antimicrobial resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae: an overview
1Department of Pathology, Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania 17033.
Abstract:
Clinical resistance to penicillin in Streptococcus pneumoniae was first reported by researchers in Boston in 1965; subsequently, this phenomenon was reported from Australia (1967) and South Africa (1977). Since these early reports, penicillin resistance has been encountered with increasing frequency in strains of S. pneumoniae from around the world. In South Africa strains resistant to penicillin and chloramphenicol as well as multiresistant strains have been isolated. Similar patterns of resistance have been reported from Spain. Preliminary evidence points to a high prevalence of resistant pneumococci in Hungary, other countries of Eastern Europe, and some countries in other areas of Europe, notably France. In the United States most reports of resistant pneumococci come from Alaska and the South, but resistance is increasing in other states and in Canada. Pneumococcal resistance has also been described in Zambia, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Chile, and Brazil; information from other African, Asian, and South American countries is not available. The rising prevalence of penicillin-resistant pneumococci worldwide mandates selective susceptibility testing and epidemiological investigations during outbreaks.
Insights
Penicillin resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae is a growing global concern, first identified in 1965. This increasing antimicrobial resistance necessitates monitoring and targeted interventions worldwide.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Antimicrobial Resistance
Background:
- Penicillin resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) was first documented in 1965.
- Since then, resistance has been increasingly reported globally.
Observation:
- Penicillin-resistant strains have been isolated in South Africa, Spain, Hungary, Eastern Europe, France, the United States (especially Alaska and the South), Canada, Zambia, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Chile, and Brazil.
- Multidrug-resistant strains have also been identified in some regions.
Findings:
- The prevalence of penicillin-resistant pneumococci is rising worldwide.
- Geographic distribution of resistance is widespread, affecting numerous countries across continents.
Implications:
- The increasing prevalence of resistant strains mandates selective susceptibility testing.
- Epidemiological investigations are crucial for managing outbreaks of resistant pneumococci.