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Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
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Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Published on: February 9, 2011

Significant decline in the erythromycin resistance of group A streptococcus isolates at a German paediatric tertiary

S Farmand1, P Henneke, M Hufnagel

  • 1Centre for Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Centre Freiburg, Mathildenstr. 1, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases : Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology
|July 29, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) macrolide resistance significantly decreased in children, from 13.6% to 2.6%. This decline in pediatric bacterial tonsillopharyngitis treatment may stem from more restricted macrolide antibiotic use.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a primary cause of bacterial tonsillopharyngitis in children.
  • Penicillin is the standard treatment, with macrolides used as a second-line option.
  • Increasing macrolide resistance in GAS has been observed globally.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the trends in macrolide resistance of GAS at a pediatric center.
  • To determine the current prevalence of macrolide resistance in pediatric GAS isolates.

Main Methods:

  • Tested 350 GAS isolates (March 2006-May 2009) for susceptibility to erythromycin, azithromycin, clindamycin, penicillin, and cefotaxime.
  • Screened macrolide-resistant isolates for resistance genes (mefA, ermB, ermTR, prtF1).
  • Compared current resistance rates to a previous hospital study.

Main Results:

  • Erythromycin resistance in GAS isolates significantly decreased from 13.6% in prior study to 2.6% in the current study.
  • The prevalence of macrolide resistance showed a notable decline over the study period.
  • Specific macrolide resistance genes were identified in resistant isolates.

Conclusions:

  • A significant reduction in macrolide resistance among pediatric GAS isolates was observed.
  • This decrease may be linked to a more judicious prescription of macrolides for children.
  • Continued surveillance of antibiotic resistance in GAS is crucial for effective treatment strategies.

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