title: Antimicrobial resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis and group A beta-haemolytic streptococci in 2002-2003. Results of the multinational GRASP Surveillance Program.
abstract: A multinational surveillance study, GRASP, was conducted between November 2002 and April 2003 with the aim of assessing rates of antimicrobial resistance among 2656 isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae, 2486 isolates of group A beta-haemolytic streptococci, 1358 isolates of Haemophilus influenzae and 1047 of Moraxella catarrhalis from 20 countries in Europe, eastern Asia and southern Africa. Conspicuous differences between various countries were noted in the S. pneumoniae resistance rates observed for penicillin (0-79.2%) and erythromycin (4-66%), along with other antimicrobials. The percentage of MDR strains was above 25% in 8 of the 20 countries studied. Group A streptococcal macrolide resistance rates ranged from 0% to 35% by country, while rates of beta-lactamase production ranged from 0% to 39% for H. influenzae and 80-100% for M. catarrhalis. Antibiotic resistance in S. pneumoniae remains a significant problem world wide.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Beekmann
authors.forename: Kris P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Heilmann
authors.forename: Sandra S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García-de-Lomas
authors.forename: Gary V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Doern
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D001936:Moraxella catarrhalis / Q000187:drug effects*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000187:drug effects*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents