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Meningitis from a pneumococcus moderately resistant to penicillin
JAMA
|April 20, 1979
Abstract:
Strains of pneumococci moderately resistant to penicillin were recovered from three patients at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh during 1978. One of these children had meningitis and showed signs of early relapse despite high doses of penicillin G potassium. Routine screening of pneumococci for penicillin resistance is recommended.
Insights
Penicillin-resistant pneumococci strains were found in three children in 1978, including one with meningitis who relapsed. Routine screening for pneumococcal penicillin resistance is advised.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Penicillin has been a cornerstone treatment for pneumococcal infections.
- Emergence of antimicrobial resistance is a significant public health concern.
Observation:
- Three pediatric patients at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh yielded pneumococcal strains with moderate penicillin resistance in 1978.
- One patient diagnosed with pneumococcal meningitis experienced a clinical relapse despite receiving high-dose intravenous penicillin G potassium.
Findings:
- The recovered pneumococcal isolates exhibited intermediate resistance to penicillin.
- Clinical outcomes in one severe case (meningitis) were suboptimal, suggesting treatment challenges posed by resistant strains.
Implications:
- Highlights the early emergence of penicillin resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae.
- Underscores the critical need for ongoing surveillance and susceptibility testing of pneumococci.
- Suggests potential limitations of standard penicillin therapy in the presence of emerging resistance patterns.