Antimicrobial resistance among isolates of respiratory tract infection pathogens from the southern United States: data from the PROTEKT US surveillance program 2000/2001.
BACKGROUND
PROTEKT US (Prospective Resistant Organism Tracking and Epidemiology for the Ketolide Telithromycin in the United States) was established in 2000 to monitor antimicrobial resistance among respiratory tract pathogens across the United States.


METHODS
During 2000 to 2001, 75 southern US centers collected 3,867 Streptococcus pneumoniae, 1,455 Streptococccus pyogenes and 1,042 Haemophilus influenzae.


RESULTS
Overall, 46.1% of S. pneumoniae isolates were nonsusceptible to penicillin, 35.8% were resistant to erythromycin, and 0.5% were resistant to fluoroquinolones. Against S. pneumoniae the most active agents were telithromycin (99.7% susceptible), linezolid (99.8%) and the fluoroquinolones (levofloxacin 99.4%, gatifloxacin 99.5%). The prevalence of erythromycin-resistant S. pyogenes isolates was 4.5%. Telithromycin, at concentration of < or = 1 mg/L, inhibited 99.9% of S. pyogenes. The prevalence of beta-lactamase positive H. influenzae was 26.2%. Telithromycin was active (MIC90 4 mg/L) against H. influenzae, irrespective of beta-lactamase production.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of penicillin and macrolide resistance among respiratory tract pathogens from the southern United States is high. Fluoroquinolone resistance is low. Telithromycin is highly active against respiratory tract pathogens with reduced susceptibility to beta-lactams, macrolides, and fluoroquinolones.
Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233-7331, USA. waites@path.uab.edu
Ken
K
Waites
Steve
S
Brown
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D015144:Southeastern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D015206:Southwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013997:Time Factors
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents