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High incidence of multidrug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in South Korea
1Division of Microbiology, College of Pharmacy, SungKyunKwan University, Suwon, Kyunggido, Korea.
Abstract:
Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from patients with bacteremia, meningitis, pneumonia, and otitis media and used to determine susceptibility to various antibiotics. Of 105 isolates, 51% to 83% were resistant to 6 antibiotics (i.e., the percentages of resistance to penicillin, ampicillin, cephalothin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and erythromycin were 78%, 67%, 51%, 56%, 83%, and 58%, respectively). Also, 66 of the 105 isolates were multidrug resistant. Seventy-eight percent of multidrug-resistant strains were highly resistant to tetracycline (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] > or = 50 micrograms/ml), and 39% of multidrug-resistant strains were also highly resistant to erythromycin (MIC > or = 128 micrograms/ml). However, only 4% of the 105 isolates were resistant to cefotaxime.
Insights
Streptococcus pneumoniae shows high resistance to common antibiotics like tetracycline and penicillin. However, resistance to cefotaxime remains low, indicating its potential effectiveness against these bacterial infections.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Antimicrobial Resistance
Background:
- Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of bacterial infections, including pneumonia, meningitis, and otitis media.
- Antibiotic resistance in S. pneumoniae poses a significant global health threat, complicating treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from patients with invasive infections.
- To identify the prevalence of multidrug resistance (MDR) within these isolates.
Main Methods:
- Bacterial isolates were collected from patients diagnosed with bacteremia, meningitis, pneumonia, and otitis media.
- Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed for penicillin, ampicillin, cephalothin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, erythromycin, and cefotaxime.
Main Results:
- High resistance rates were observed for penicillin (78%), tetracycline (83%), and ampicillin (67%).
- 66 out of 105 isolates (63%) exhibited multidrug resistance.
- Notably, only 4% of isolates showed resistance to cefotaxime, highlighting a significant susceptibility to this antibiotic.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals a concerning level of antibiotic resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae, particularly to commonly used drugs.
- Cefotaxime remains a viable treatment option against S. pneumoniae infections due to low resistance rates.
- Continuous surveillance of antimicrobial resistance patterns is crucial for effective treatment guidelines.