title: Antimicrobial resistance in Streptococcus pyogenes isolates in Berlin.
abstract: A total of 212 clinical Streptococcus pyogenes isolates were tested for susceptibility to various antibiotics by agar dilution. The overall frequency of erythromycin resistance was 12.7%, being higher in isolates from children (18.9%) than in those from adult patients (10.7%). Similar results were found for clarithromycin, while 2.8% of the isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin. All strains were susceptible to penicillin and cefotaxime. Of the erythromycin-resistant isolates subjected to the double-disc diffusion test for erythromycin and clindamycin, 35% expressed constitutive and 55% inducible resistance to clindamycin. Ten per cent were susceptible to clindamycin (M-phenotype). Thus, a high rate of macrolide resistance in S. pyogenes has emerged in Berlin.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Infektionsmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Benjamin Franklin, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany. arvand@zedat.fu-berlin.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arvand
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoeck
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wagner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001604:Berlin; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial / Q000235:genetics; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004917:Erythromycin