Related Experiment Videos
Prevalence of penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae--Connecticut, 1992-1993
Insights
Penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae infections are rising. A Connecticut survey found widespread antimicrobial susceptibility testing but limited data on drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (DRSP) prevalence.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Streptococcus pneumoniae causes serious infections like pneumonia and meningitis.
- Infants, children, and the elderly are most vulnerable to pneumococcal disease.
- Increasing antimicrobial resistance, particularly to penicillin, is a growing concern in the US.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess antimicrobial susceptibility testing practices for Streptococcus pneumoniae in Connecticut hospitals.
- To determine the prevalence of penicillin resistance among pneumococcal isolates in Connecticut.
- To understand the scope of drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (DRSP) surveillance.
Main Methods:
- A survey was conducted in August 1993 targeting all 44 hospitals in Connecticut with clinical microbiology laboratories.
- Data were collected on antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from July 1992 to June 1993.
- The survey aimed to identify the extent of testing and prevalence of penicillin resistance.
Main Results:
- The survey covered all hospitals in Connecticut, providing a comprehensive overview of testing practices.
- Results detailed the extent of antimicrobial susceptibility testing performed on Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates.
- The prevalence of penicillin resistance among pneumococcal isolates was a key focus of the findings.
Conclusions:
- The study highlights the need for robust surveillance of drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (DRSP).
- Findings inform public health strategies for managing antimicrobial resistance in Connecticut.
- Understanding local resistance patterns is crucial for effective treatment of pneumococcal infections.
Abstract:
Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important cause of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia, meningitis, acute otitis media, and other infections. Infants, young children, and the elderly are most severely affected by pneumococcal disease. Although S. pneumoniae was once considered to be routinely susceptible to penicillin, since the mid-1980s the incidence of resistance of this organism to penicillin and other antimicrobial agents has been increasing in the United States. National surveillance for drug-resistant S. pneumoniae (DRSP) is limited to testing invasive isolates from sentinel hospitals in 13 states. To determine the extent of antimicrobial susceptibility testing of S. pneumoniae and the prevalence of penicillin resistance among pneumococcal isolates from July 1992 through June 1993, in August 1993 the Connecticut Department of Public Health and Addiction Services (DPHAS) surveyed all 44 hospitals with clinical microbiology laboratories in Connecticut. This report summarizes the results of that survey.