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Antimicrobial resistance data on 16,756 Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates in 1999: A Pan-Regional Multicenter

Marie-Claude Demachy1, Véronique Vernet-Garnier, Jeanne Cottin

  • 1CH Meaux, France.

Microbial Drug Resistance (Larchmont, N.Y.)
|December 20, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Antibiotic resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae is increasing in France. In 1999, resistance to common antibiotics like penicillin and erythromycin was widespread, particularly in children.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Antibiotic resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae is a growing global concern.
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of bacterial infections worldwide, including pneumonia, meningitis, and otitis media.
  • Surveillance of antibiotic resistance patterns is crucial for guiding treatment strategies and public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae strains collected in France in 1999.
  • To identify trends in resistance to key antibiotics, including penicillin, amoxicillin, cefotaxime, erythromycin, cotrimoxazole, tetracycline, and chloramphenicol.
  • To investigate variations in resistance prevalence based on patient age and specimen source.

Main Methods:

  • A national surveillance study was conducted in France in 1999.
  • A total of 16,756 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae were collected and analyzed.
  • Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using standard microbiological methods to determine Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs).

Main Results:

  • Overall decreased susceptibility to penicillin was observed in 44% of strains, amoxicillin in 26%, and cefotaxime in 17%.
  • High-level resistance to penicillin, amoxicillin, and cefotaxime remained low (12.3%, 1.8%, and 0.4%, respectively).
  • High prevalence of resistance was noted for erythromycin (53%), cotrimoxazole (41.7%), tetracycline (31.8%), and chloramphenicol (24.6%).
  • Penicillin resistance was higher in children (52.7%) than adults (39.8%) and in middle ear fluid isolates (63.6%) compared to blood cultures (41.8%) in children.
  • Resistance to other antibiotics was more common in children than adults, with geographical variations observed.
  • Comparison with a 1997 study indicated a rising trend in antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Conclusions:

  • The prevalence of antibiotic-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae continued to rise in France in 1999.
  • While high-level penicillin resistance remained stable, overall resistance to several key antibiotics increased.
  • Resistance patterns varied by age and specimen source, highlighting the need for targeted surveillance and treatment guidelines.

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