[Experimental meningitis due to a high-level cephalosporin-resistant strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 23F].
BACKGROUND
The increasing prevalence of high-level cephalosporin-resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae could complicate the treatment of severe infections such as meningitis. There are still questions as to the characteristics of these strains, their ability to produce severe infection, and the inflammatory response they induce in CSF.


METHODS
Using a rabbit model of meningitis, we sought to determine the pathogenicity and differences in inflammatory parameters in two serotype 23F S. pneumoniae strains with different susceptibility to betalactams. Minimal inhibitory concentrations of the two strains were as follows: strain A--PEN 4 micro g/mL, CRO/CTX 2 micro g/mL--and strain B--PEN 0.12 micro g/mL, CRO/CTX 32 micro g/mL.


RESULTS
Strain A resulted in a greater incidence of secondary bacteremia and higher inflammatory parameters during the early phases of infection. Strain B caused brain edema, a more severe inflammatory response and significantly higher mortality at the end of the experiment.


CONCLUSIONS
Both strains induced meningitis in the animal model. The differences in inflammatory response produced by the two strains could be related to the variations that determine the betalactam resistance level.
Ribes
Sandra
S
Laboratorio de Infección Experimental. Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge. Hospitalet de Llobregat. Barcelona. España.
Doménech
Alejandro
A
Cabellos
Carmen
C
Tubau
Fe
F
Liñares
Josefina
J
Viladrich
Pedro F
PF
Gudiol
Francesc
F
D000818:Animals; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000209:etiology; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000209:etiology; D018550:Cephalosporin Resistance; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D012703:Serotyping; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014774:Virulence
D002511:Cephalosporins