title: Surveillance of pneumococcal resistance in Belgium during winter 1996-1997.
abstract: This study tested 212 pneumococcal isolates from 9 institutions for their susceptibilities to penicillin, ampicillin, amoxycillin, amoxycillin/clavulanate, cefaclor, cefuroxime, cefotaxime, imipenem, tetracycline, erythromycin, and clarithromycin using NCCLS-standardized microdilution. Penicillin-insusceptibility was 12.3% [5.7% intermediate (0.12-1 microgram/ml) and 6.6% high-level (> or = 2 micrograms/ml)], tetracycline-insusceptibility (> or = 4 micrograms/ml) 31.1%, and erythromycin-insusceptibility (> or = 0.5 microgram/ml) 31.1% as well. Erythromycin-insusceptible isolates showed cross-insusceptibility to clarithromycin. Penicillin-susceptible isolates were susceptible to all beta-lactams. MICs of all beta-lactams rose with those of penicillin for penicillin-insusceptible isolates. Ampicillin and penicillin were equally potent against penicillin-insusceptible isolates, imipenem, cefotaxime, and amoxycillin +/- clavulanate were more potent (generally 5, 1, and 1 doubling dilution, respectively), and cefuroxime and cefaclor less potent (generally 1 and 6 doubling dilutions, respectively). Most penicillin-insusceptible isolates were high-level resistant to cefaclor (> or = 32 micrograms/ml). Although MICs of all beta-lactams rose with those of penicillin, resistance to penicillin was not absolute in terms of cross-resistance. Most penicillin-intermediate and high-level penicillin-resistant isolates remained fully susceptible and intermediate, respectively, to amoxycillin +/- clavulanate, cefotaxime, and imipenem, but not to cefuroxime. Penicillin-susceptible isolates were 76.9%, 42.3%, and 34.6% co-insusceptible to tetracycline, erythromycin, and tetracycline plus erythromycin, respectively. Most penicillin-, tetracycline-, and erythromycin-insusceptible isolates were of capsular types 23 >> 6 > 19 > 32, 19 > 6 > 28 > 23, and 19 > 6 > 14 > 23, respectively. Compared to winter 1994-1995, insusceptibility to penicillin, tetracycline, and erythromycin rose by some 4%, 4%, and 13%, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Eenheid Antibiotica-onderzoek, Pasteurinstituut-Brussel.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vanhoof
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carpentier
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Glupczynski
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gordts
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Magerman
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mans
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Nyssen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Surmont
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van De Vyvere
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Landuyt
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van Nimmen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Van Noyen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000668:Ampicillin Resistance; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001530:Belgium; D018550:Cephalosporin Resistance; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D018942:Macrolides; D008875:Middle Aged; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects*; D013753:Tetracycline Resistance; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D018942:Macrolides; D013845:Thienamycins; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination