Related Experiment Videos
Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Haemophilus isolates from children in eleven developing nations. BOSTID
G A Weinberg1, E D Spitzer, P R Murray
1Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
Insights
Most pediatric respiratory infections in developing countries show low resistance to common antibiotics. Penicillin G remains effective, supporting its use as a first-line treatment for childhood acute respiratory disease.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Acute respiratory disease is a major cause of childhood mortality in developing countries.
- Understanding antimicrobial resistance patterns in causative agents like Haemophilus species is crucial for effective treatment.
- Global surveillance studies are essential to monitor antibiotic susceptibility trends.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the antimicrobial susceptibilities of Haemophilus species isolated from children with acute respiratory disease in developing countries.
- To assess the prevalence of resistance to key antibiotics, including ampicillin, chloramphenicol, and penicillin G.
- To evaluate the suitability of current treatment guidelines for acute respiratory infections.
Main Methods:
- Antimicrobial susceptibilities of 426 Haemophilus isolates were tested using the Haemophilus Test Medium.
- Eleven different antibiotics were evaluated.
- Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for penicillin and ampicillin were compared.
Main Results:
- A low prevalence of antibiotic resistance was observed overall.
- 6% of strains showed resistance to ampicillin, and 1.6% were resistant to chloramphenicol.
- Resistance to both ampicillin and chloramphenicol was found only in isolates from Thailand. Penicillin G susceptibility was high, comparable to ampicillin.
Conclusions:
- Haemophilus isolates demonstrate generally low resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, and penicillin G.
- Penicillin G is a viable and effective first-line agent for treating acute respiratory infections in children in developing nations.
- Current treatment protocols utilizing penicillin G are supported by these findings.
Abstract:
The antimicrobial susceptibilities of 426 isolates of Haemophilus species, which were collected as part of a worldwide study of the etiology of acute respiratory disease in children in selected developing countries, were determined. Eleven antibiotics were tested using the recently described Haemophilus Test Medium. There was a low prevalence of antibiotic resistance; 6% of strains were resistant to ampicillin, and 1.6% were resistant to chloramphenicol. Strains resistant to both ampicillin and chloramphenicol were recovered only from Thailand. Susceptibility to penicillin G was also determined; the minimum inhibitory concentrations for penicillin and ampicillin were concordant within one 2-fold dilution in 97% of the isolates. Thus, Haemophilus isolates were as susceptible to penicillin G as they were to ampicillin, and penicillin resistance was infrequent overall. These data provide support for the current protocols for the management of acute respiratory infections in children in developing countries, in which penicillin G is a first-line agent.