Pneumococcal drug resistance: the new "special enemy of old age".
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of illness and death among the elderly. The recent emergence of drug-resistant strains has complicated selection of antimicrobial therapy for suspected pneumococcal infections. In some areas of North America, nearly 40% of pneumococcal isolates from the blood or cerebrospinal fluid of persons > or = 65 years old had reduced susceptibility to penicillin. Of all penicillin-resistant infections, >30% occur in persons > or = 65 years old. The increasing prevalence of drug-resistant pneumococci and recent outbreaks of pneumococcal disease in chronic-care facilities emphasize the importance of efforts to prevent these infections in the elderly. Limiting selection for drug-resistant strains through judicious use of antimicrobial drugs and preventing invasive pneumococcal infections through increased use of pneumococcal vaccine form the foundation of these efforts.
Butler
J C
JC
Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. jcb3@cdc.gov
Cetron
M S
MS
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents