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[Antimicrobial resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae, 2003-2009]

E Năstase1, Olivia Dorneanu, Carmen Dorobăţ

  • 1Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie Gr. T. Popa Iaşi Facultatea de Medicină, Disciplina de Boli Infecţioase.

Revista Medico-Chirurgicala a Societatii De Medici Si Naturalisti Din Iasi
|August 30, 2011
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Streptococcus pneumoniae resistance to antibiotics has significantly increased in Romania. Pneumococcal isolates show high resistance to common treatments, particularly penicillin and other non-beta-lactam agents.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

  • Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of respiratory infections like pneumonia.
  • Understanding antimicrobial resistance patterns is crucial for effective treatment.
  • Previous data on resistance in Romania was limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the antibiotic susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates in Iaşi, Romania.
  • To determine the prevalence of resistance to penicillin and other key antibiotics.
  • To identify trends in antimicrobial resistance over time.

Main Methods:

  • Collected 155 S. pneumoniae isolates from patients between 2003 and 2009.
  • Assessed antibiotic susceptibility using disk diffusion and MIC methods.
  • Determined minimum inhibitory concentrations for penicillin and cefotaxime.

Main Results:

  • 32.6% of isolates were non-susceptible to penicillin, with resistance increasing to 50% by 2008.
  • High resistance rates observed for trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (57.5%), tetracycline (34.3%), and macrolides (30.9%).
  • No resistance detected for vancomycin, linezolid, or quinupristin-dalfopristin. Resistance was higher in respiratory isolates.

Conclusions:

  • Antimicrobial resistance in S. pneumoniae has markedly increased in Romania.
  • Pneumococcal isolates in Iaşi frequently exhibit resistance to beta-lactams and other agents.
  • Penicillin non-susceptible strains show higher resistance to other antibiotics.

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