[Resistance surveillance of common community respiratory pathogens isolated in China, 2002 - 2003].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate antimicrobial resistance of common community respiratory pathogens isolated in China, 2002 - 2003.


METHODS
779 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Group A beta-haemolytic Streptococci and oxacillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) were isolated from patients with community-acquired respiratory tract infections at 5 hospitals in China from April 2002 to 2003. Meanwhile, 185 strains of S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis were isolated from nasopharynx swabs at 2 day-care centers in Beijing. Agar dilution method was used to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration (MICs) of cefprozil and other 9 antibiotics against these strains.


RESULTS
The prevalence of penicillin-intermediate S. pneumoniae (PISP) was 23.9% and that of penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae (PRSP) was 22.7% at 5 cities in China. The prevalence of PISP were 44.1% in Hangzhou, 26.2% in Wuhan, 21.5% in Shenyang, 20.8% in Shanghai, 18.5% in Beijing, and 12.7% at day-care centers in Beijing;the prevalance of PRSP were 34.9% in day-care centers, 31.9% in Shanghai, 27.9% in Wuhan, 22.1% in Hangzhou, 13.8% in Shenyang and 8.6% in Beijing. The susceptible rate of levofloxacin in S. pneumoniae was 96.3%. 9.5% of H. influenzae and 87.4% of M. catarrhalis produced beta-lactamases. The susceptibility of amoxicillin/clavulanate, cefaclor, cefprozil, cefuroxime, ceftriaxone, azithromycin, and levofloxain in these two species ranged from 96.4% to 100%. The resistance rate of azithromycin in S. pneumoniae was higher than 60%. Cefprozil MICs against PISP, Group A beta-haemolytic Streptococci and MSSA were 4 - 16 fold lower than cefaclor.


CONCLUSIONS
Antimicrobial resistance in respiratory pathogens, especially S. pneumoniae is increasing. It brings concerns that high macrolide resistance was found in gram-positive cocci. Cefprozil was more active than cefaclor against respiratory pathogens.
Wang
Hui
H
Bacteriological Laboratory, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.
Yu
Yun-song
YS
Liu
Yong
Y
Li
Hua-yin
HY
Hu
Bi-jie
BJ
Sun
Zi-yong
ZY
Chen
Min-jun
MJ
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D064704:Levofloxacin; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D001936:Moraxella catarrhalis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D010406:Penicillins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000097670:Cefprozil
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins; D064704:Levofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin; D010406:Penicillins; D000097670:Cefprozil