Capsular types and antibiotic susceptibility of pneumococci isolated from patients in Belgium with serious infections, 1980-1993.
During the 13-year period from 1 November 1980 to 31 January 1993, we received and serotyped a total of 5,619 clinically significant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated in more than 75 laboratories in Belgium (4,079 [72.6%] were from blood or pleural fluid, 462 [8.2%] were from cerebrospinal fluid, 691 [12.3%] were from middle ear aspirates, and 387 [6.8%] were from various other body fluids). The isolates belonged to 64 of the 84 currently recognized serotypes. Among the 4,722 isolates tested for susceptibility since 1983, 22% were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent. Resistance to penicillin has slowly increased since 1985 but remained stable at a level of 2%-4% between 1986 and 1993. Of the 119 isolates with reduced penicillin susceptibility, only 23 were fully resistant (MIC, > or = 2 micrograms/mL) and none of these proved to be resistant to cephalosporins. Resistance to erythromycin increased significantly from 5.2% in 1986 to 21.5% in 1993. Resistance to penicillin and erythromycin was also more frequently recognized in a smaller number of capsular types of S. pneumoniae.
Verhaegen
J
J
Department of Bacteriology, University Hospital St. Rafaël, Leuven, Belgium.
Glupczynski
Y
Y
Verbist
L
L
Blogie
M
M
Verbiest
N
N
Vandeven
J
J
Yourassowsky
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000032:analysis*; D001530:Belgium; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D012703:Serotyping; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013997:Time Factors
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents