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[Neisseria meningitidis strains with decreased susceptibility to penicillin and ampicillin]

J L Quiles Durá1, C Rico Urios, E Climent Forner

  • 1Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital General Universitario de Elche.

Anales Espanoles De Pediatria
|April 1, 1997
PubMed

Insights

Meningococcal infection strains B and C show moderate penicillin resistance, especially strain C. Ceftriaxone is recommended over penicillin for treating these infections due to emerging resistance concerns.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Meningococcal infections, including sepsis and meningitis, pose significant public health challenges.
  • Antibiotic resistance in Neisseria meningitidis strains can complicate treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of Neisseria meningitidis strains isolated from patients with meningococcal infections.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of current antibiotic treatments and recommend optimal therapeutic options.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 38 patients (31 children, 7 adults) diagnosed with meningococcal infection.
  • Isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Neisseria meningitidis strains, focusing on penicillin, ceftriaxone, and chloramphenicol.
  • Clinical outcome assessment for patients treated with penicillin G.

Main Results:

  • Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B was the most frequent isolate (44.7%), followed by serogroup C (31.6%).
  • Over half (52.6%) of the isolated strains exhibited moderate penicillin resistance, with 91.6% of serogroup C strains showing this resistance.
  • No resistance was observed against ceftriaxone or chloramphenicol.

Conclusions:

  • Moderate penicillin resistance in meningococcal strains, particularly serogroup C, necessitates careful treatment selection.
  • While penicillin G was effective in this cohort, emerging resistance and potential beta-lactamase production support ceftriaxone as the preferred empirical treatment.
  • Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (antibiogram) is crucial for guiding precise treatment decisions in meningococcal infections.

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