Susceptibility of Zimbabwean Streptococcus agalactiae (group B Streptococcus; GBS) isolates to four different antibiotics.
OBJECTIVE
To establish the susceptibility of Zimbabwean GBS strains isolated from hospitalised patients to four antibiotics.


METHODS
Cross sectional survey.


METHODS
Four regions of Zimbabwe (Bindura, Bulawayo, Harare, and Masvingo).


METHODS
113 GBS isolates from hospitalised patients in Bindura, Bulawayo, Harare and Masvingo, of whom most were suffering from infectious diseases.


METHODS
All isolates were tested for their susceptibility to clindamycin, erythromycin, penicillin and tetracycline.


RESULTS
All isolates were 100% sensitive to clindamycin, 98% to penicillin, 86% to erythromycin; 2% of the isolates showed intermediate susceptibility to penicillin and 100% showed resistance to tetracycline.


CONCLUSIONS
Penicillin is still the antibiotic of choice for treatment of GBS infections and for intrapartum chemoprophylaxis in Zimbabwe. For patients who are allergic to penicillin, clindamycin will be the drug of choice for both treatment and/or chemoprophylactic use in Zimbabwe.
Moyo
S R
SR
Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe. srmoyo@healthnet.zw
Maeland
J A
JA
Munemo
E S
ES
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D010406:Penicillins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000187:drug effects*; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology; D015030:Zimbabwe
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D002981:Clindamycin; D004917:Erythromycin; D013752:Tetracycline