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11:32
Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria
Published on: February 23, 2014
Streptococcus pneumoniae resistant to penicillin and chloramphenicol
Lancet (London, England)
|November 12, 1977
Summary
Pneumococci resistant to penicillin, cephalosporins, and chloramphenicol caused severe infections. Despite treatment, meningitis cases were fatal, while sepsis cases recovered, highlighting challenges in antibiotic resistance.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Emerging antibiotic resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae poses a significant public health threat.
- Penicillins, cephalosporins, and chloramphenicol are critical antibiotics for treating pneumococcal infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report clinical cases of invasive pneumococcal disease caused by strains resistant to multiple antibiotics.
- To investigate the characteristics of these resistant pneumococci.
Main Methods:
- Clinical case reporting and review.
- Microbiological analysis of causative pneumococcal isolates, including beta-lactamase testing.
Main Results:
- Five invasive pneumococcal disease cases (3 meningitis, 2 septicaemia) were identified.
- Pneumococcal isolates exhibited resistance to penicillins, cephalosporins, and chloramphenicol.
- No beta-lactamase activity was detected in the resistant strains.
- All patients with meningitis succumbed to the infection.
- Patients with septicaemia survived following appropriate antibiotic treatment.
Conclusions:
- Pneumococci resistant to key antibiotics can cause life-threatening meningitis and septicaemia.
- The lack of beta-lactamase in these resistant strains suggests alternative resistance mechanisms.
- Effective antibiotic therapy is crucial for survival in cases of pneumococcal septicaemia, even with resistant strains.
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