[Pneumococcal pneumonia in hospitalized patients. Therapeutic implications of resistances to penicillin and erythromycin].
OBJECTIVE
Streptococcus pneumoniae is the main etiological agent of community-acquired pneumonia. The aim of this work was to ascertain the resistance profiles of pneumococcus to penicillin and erythromycin and to analyse whether such profiles lead to different disease developments.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis was carried out in 75 cases of pneumococcal pneumonia corresponding to hospitalized patients. Comorbidity factors were evaluated including their influence on the appearance of resistance.


RESULTS
67 patients (89.3%) presented comorbidity factors. 49.3% isolates displayed some type of resistance: 38.6% to penicillin, 36% to erythromycin and 13.3% to cefotaxime. No relationship was observed between the severity of the pneumonia and antibiotic resistance. Complications and mortality were not influenced by the susceptibility of pneumococcus to antibiotics.


CONCLUSIONS
The increase in the resistance to antibiotics, especially erythromycin, makes betalactams the best choice for the treatment of pneumococcal pneumonia.
Sanz Herrero
Francisco
F
Servicio de Neumología. Hospital General Universitario de Valencia. España.
Juan Samper
Gustavo
G
Ramón Capilla
Mercedes
M
Navarro Iváñez
Rafael
R
Lloret Pérez
Tomás
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002439:Cefotaxime / Q000627:therapeutic use; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D011018:Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004917:Erythromycin; D002439:Cefotaxime