title: Pneumococcal susceptibility to meropenem in a mid-south children's hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated pneumococcal susceptibility to meropenem in isolates from a tertiary children's hospital where pneumococci are commonly resistant to penicillin and cefotaxime.
  
  
  METHODS
  From July 1998 to August 1999, meropenem susceptibilities were determined by E-test for all Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from blood or cerebrospinal fluid and for penicillin-nonsusceptible pneumococcal isolates from other sites.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Isolates that were penicillin-susceptible or penicillin-intermediate were all susceptible to meropenem. Of 29 penicillin-resistant isolates, 27 were nonsusceptible to meropenem (13 intermediate, 14 resistant). Cefotaxime-susceptible isolates were all susceptible to meropenem. Of 11 cefotaxime-intermediate isolates, 10 were nonsusceptible to meropenem (9 intermediate, 1 resistant). Of 20 cefotaxime-resistant isolates, 17 were nonsusceptible to meropenem (4 intermediate, 13 resistant).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Meropenem resistance is common among pneumococci with decreased susceptibility to penicillin or cefotaxime. The role of this agent in the treatment of invasive infections caused by pneumococci that are resistant to penicillin and cefotaxime may be limited.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Disease, University of Tennessee Health Science Center and Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, Tenn 38103, USA.
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Buckingham
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: B Keith
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: English
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D000077731:Meropenem; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects*; D013714:Tennessee; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018440:beta-Lactam Resistance
chemical_list: D013845:Thienamycins; D000077731:Meropenem