title: Penicillin-resistant and -intermediate Streptococcus pneumoniae in Saudi Arabia.
abstract: The antibiotic susceptibility was analyzed of approximately 400 consecutive isolates of S. pneumoniae isolated from different regions of Saudi Arabia. Most of these isolates were from respiratory (sputum, otitis, 53.8%), blood/CSF (26.3%) and ophthalmic (20%) specimens. Overall 6.2% of the isolates were penicillin-resistant (MICs > or =2 microg/ml) and 51.2% were -intermediate (MICs 0.1-1 microg/ml). The resistance rates to cefuroxime, clarithromycin and ceftriaxone were 14.9%, 14.8% and 4.5% respectively. Only 3.5% of S. pneumoniae showed resistance to amoxycillin/clavulanic acid. The MICs of all tested antibiotics increased as did the penicillin MICs. Penicillin resistance was significantly associated with resistance to cefuroxime (p<0.001) but not with the others. These data indicate the presence of penicillin and multiple-resistant pneumococci in Saudi Arabia and that these strains can spread among individuals. A greater awareness with extended indications for microbiological diagnosis, antimicrobial susceptibility testing and restrictive prescription of antibiotics are needed.
authors.affiliation: King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Shibl
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Al Rasheed
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Elbashier
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Osoba
mesh_terms: D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D002444:Cefuroxime / Q000494:pharmacology; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins; D002443:Ceftriaxone; D000658:Amoxicillin; D017291:Clarithromycin; D002444:Cefuroxime