Prevalence and clinical significance of community-acquired penicillin-resistant pneumococcal pneumonia in Thailand.
OBJECTIVE
The study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, clinical significance and outcome of community-acquired penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP) pneumonia in Thailand.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective study in culture-proven pneumococcal pneumonia. Pneumococci were defined as susceptible, intermediate resistance and high resistance according to the definitions of the United States National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS).


RESULTS
Forty-six consecutive patients were enrolled. Of the S. pneumoniae isolates collected, 41.3% were resistant to penicillin (37% intermediate resistance and 4.3% high resistance). Resistance to other antibiotics was 13% to ceftriaxone (8.7% intermediate resistance and 4.3% high resistance), 34.8% to erythromycin, 39.1% to tetracycline, 26.1% to chloramphenicol, and 43.5% to trimethoprim -sulfamethoxazole. Prior antibiotic use within 3 months was significantly associated with resistance to penicillin. The overall mortality of pneumococcal pneumonia was 26.1%. Multilobar involvement and requirement for mechanical ventilation proved to be associated with mortality. However, resistance to penicillin or ceftriaxone was not associated with death.


CONCLUSIONS
According to the US NCCLS guidelines, we found a high prevalence of drug-resistant S. pneumoniae in Thai patients with community-acquired pneumonia. Prior antibiotic use was significantly associated with penicillin resistance. However, the outcome was not related to in vitro penicillin susceptibility of S. pneumoniae isolated from the patients.
Sangthawan
Patchanee
P
Pulmonary Division, Department of Medicine Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.
Chantaratchada
Sudaluck
S
Chanthadisai
Nonglak
N
Wattanathum
Anan
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D011018:Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002443:Ceftriaxone