title: Ampicillin-resistant Hemophilus influenzae type B infections in hospitalized pediatric patients.
abstract: Thirty-two pediatric patients with invasive Hemophilus influenzae type B (HITB) infections were evaluated according to the frequency of resistant strains and the clinical profile. The incidence of resistant strains was 28% (9/32), all of them due to beta-lactamase-producing bacteria. The rate of ampicillin resistance was significantly higher among patients who had received beta-lactam antibiotics. The initial treatment of HITB infections in our region should therefore include chloramphenicol; the indiscriminate day-to-day use of beta-lactam antibiotics should be reconsidered.
mesh_terms: D000667:Ampicillin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010403:Penicillin Resistance / Q000187:drug effects*; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002701:Chloramphenicol; D000667:Ampicillin; D001618:beta-Lactamases