Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Enhanced Extraction of Low-Molecular Weight DNA from Wastewater for Comprehensive Assessment of Antimicrobial Resistance
06:54

Enhanced Extraction of Low-Molecular Weight DNA from Wastewater for Comprehensive Assessment of Antimicrobial Resistance

Published on: July 19, 2024

Antimicrobial resistance among respiratory pathogens in Spain: latest data and changes over 11 years (1996-1997 to

Emilio Pérez-Trallero1, Jose E Martín-Herrero, Ana Mazón

  • 1Department of Microbiology and CIBERES, Hospital Donostia, San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
|May 5, 2010
PubMed

Insights

This study tracked antimicrobial resistance in Spanish hospitals over 11 years, finding a significant decline in resistance for key respiratory pathogens like Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance

Background:

  • Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant threat to public health.
  • Long-term surveillance is crucial for monitoring resistance trends and informing treatment guidelines.
  • Previous Susceptibility to the Antimicrobials Used in the Community in España (SAUCE) studies provided baseline data on resistance patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess temporal trends in antimicrobial resistance and resistance phenotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Haemophilus influenzae in Spain over an 11-year period.
  • To compare current resistance data (SAUCE-4) with historical data from previous SAUCE studies.
  • To identify shifts in resistance mechanisms among common respiratory pathogens.

Main Methods:

  • A nationwide multicenter study (SAUCE-4) collected 2,559 Streptococcus pneumoniae, 2,287 Streptococcus pyogenes, and 2,736 Haemophilus influenzae isolates from 34 Spanish hospitals (May 2006-June 2007).
  • Isolate data was compared with results from three prior SAUCE studies (1996-2002).
  • Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) breakpoints.

Main Results:

  • SAUCE-4 showed high activity of penicillin and cefotaxime against Streptococcus pneumoniae (99.8% and 99.6% susceptible).
  • Nonsusceptibility to erythromycin in Streptococcus pyogenes was 19.4%, with a rising trend in macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLS(B)) phenotype (7.0% to 35.5%).
  • Haemophilus influenzae showed a 15.7% beta-lactamase-positive prevalence, with decreasing trends in ampicillin resistance and beta-lactamase production over 11 years.
  • Statistically significant decreasing trends in penicillin nonsusceptibility and resistance were observed for Streptococcus pneumoniae.
  • A significant decrease in macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLS(B)) phenotype resistance was noted for Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Conclusions:

  • The SAUCE-4 study indicates a generalized decline in antimicrobial resistance among major respiratory pathogens in Spain.
  • There has been a notable shift in resistance phenotypes observed over the 11-year surveillance period.
  • Continued monitoring is essential to track evolving resistance patterns and guide effective antimicrobial stewardship.

More Related Videos

Isolation and Identification of Waterborne Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Molecular Characterization of their Antibiotic Resistance Genes08:58

Isolation and Identification of Waterborne Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Molecular Characterization of their Antibiotic Resistance Genes

Published on: March 3, 2023

Related Concept Videos

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...
Antimicrobial Effectiveness01:28

Antimicrobial Effectiveness

The effectiveness of antimicrobial agents depends on various factors influencing their ability to eliminate microbial populations. Larger microbial populations require more time for complete eradication, emphasizing the importance of population size analysis when evaluating antimicrobial efficacy.Microbial resistance to antimicrobial agents varies significantly. Highly resilient microorganisms include endospores, gram-negative bacteria, and non-enveloped viruses, while prions are exceptionally...
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...
Development of Antibiotic Resistance01:30

Development of Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern that arises when bacteria evolve mechanisms to withstand the effects of antibiotic treatments. This resistance can be intrinsic, acquired through genetic mutations, or transferred between bacteria via horizontal gene transfer. The development of antibiotic resistance poses significant challenges in treating bacterial infections and necessitates ongoing research to develop new therapeutic strategies.Intrinsic resistance occurs when bacterial...
Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics01:21

Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics

Antibiotics have revolutionized modern medicine by saving countless lives from bacterial infections. However, their widespread use has inadvertently harmed the delicate balance of the human gut microbiota. The gut microbiota, a complex community of bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi, plays a vital role in regulating metabolism, immune responses, and maintaining intestinal health. Antibiotics, especially broad-spectrum types, disrupt this ecosystem by eradicating both harmful and beneficial...
Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract01:29

Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract

The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more like...