Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Constructing Mutants in Serotype 1 Streptococcus pneumoniae strain 519/43
06:06

Constructing Mutants in Serotype 1 Streptococcus pneumoniae strain 519/43

Published on: September 11, 2020

Resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from Lebanese patients between 2005 and 2009

Ziad Daoud1, Mariam Kourani, Rawan Saab

  • 1Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Medical Sciences, University of Balamand, POBox: 100- Tripoli, Lebanon. ziad.daoud@balamand.edu.lb

Revista Espanola De Quimioterapia : Publicacion Oficial De La Sociedad Espanola De Quimioterapia
|June 14, 2011
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Antibiotic resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae is rising globally. This study found significant penicillin resistance in Lebanese strains, highlighting the need for ongoing surveillance and updated treatment guidelines to combat serious infections.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

  • Streptococcus pneumoniae is a prevalent pathogen causing severe infections.
  • Increasing antimicrobial resistance worldwide poses a significant public health threat.
  • Understanding local resistance patterns is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate antimicrobial resistance patterns of S. pneumoniae in Lebanon.
  • To assess resistance to penicillin, macrolides, and other antibiotics.
  • To identify resistance genes in clinical isolates.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 121 S. pneumoniae strains isolated between 2005-2009 in Beirut.
  • Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) determination using E-test.
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to detect erm(B) and mef(A/E) genes.

Main Results:

  • Most strains (73.5%) were from respiratory tract infections.
  • Penicillin showed intermediate resistance in 50.4% and full resistance in 1.6% of isolates.
  • Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and cefpodoxime demonstrated 100% activity; erm(B) was prevalent in macrolide-resistant strains (85.3%).

Conclusions:

  • Rising S. pneumoniae resistance impacts empirical antibiotic prescribing.
  • Treatment choices are jeopardized, posing a serious threat.
  • Continued surveillance and epidemiological studies are essential to monitor and control resistance spread.

More Related Videos

Capsular Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae by Latex Agglutination09:11

Capsular Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae by Latex Agglutination

Published on: September 25, 2014

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

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...
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...
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...
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...
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens01:31

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens

The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...