title: [Antibiotic microbial resistance surveillance in invasive infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus: the EARSS (European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System) project in Italy (April 1999-April 2000)].
abstract: This paper presents the results of an Italian multicentric study conducted in the period April 1999-April 2000 in 64 clinical microbiology laboratories, aimed at collecting antimicrobial resistance data using a standard European protocol (EARSS Project, European Antimicrobial Surveillance System). A total of 1701 strains of Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from blood and 367 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae were isolated from blood (72.7%) or from CSF (27.3%). Methicillin resistance in S. aureus was found to be 42.1%; it was significantly higher in adults (RR = 6.6, CI 95% 2.5-17.0), in hospitals of Centre and North of Italy (respectively RR = 1.45, CI 95% 1.1-2.0; RR = 1.6, CI 95% 1.1-2.2), and in intensive care and surgery units (respectively RR = 1.8, IC 95% 1.6-2.0 and RR = 1.7, CI 95% 1.4-1.9). Penicillin resistance in S. pneumoniae was found to be 12.1%; it was higher in South Italy (RR = 3.5, CI 95% 1.9-6.6, in meningitis compared to sepsis (RR = 2.5, CI 95% 1.4-2.5) and in intensive care units compared to other departments (RR = 2.2, CI 95% 1.0-4.8). The level of erythromycin resistance in S. pneumoniae was of 28.2%, reaching 56.4% in penicillin resistant strains. These results suggest that a continued surveillance and effective control measures are required.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Epidemiologia e Biostatistica, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Moro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pantosti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boccia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004917:Erythromycin