title: Susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae to penicillin in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil from 1997-2004.
abstract: We monitored the susceptibility to penicillin of invasive strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae in two reference laboratories; 502 positive cultures from patients with an active invasive infectious process were analyzed. Streptococcus pneumoniae was identified through conventional procedures, and the oxacillin disc diffusion method was used to check for penicillin susceptibility. Statistical analysis included calculations of the frequency distribution, with 95% confidence intervals (CI), as well as chi-square tests and chi-square for linear trend for temporal analysis of susceptibility. The bacterium was isolated from patients less than a year old (40.7% of the isolates), from infants (55.9%), and from individuals less than 15 years old (64.4%). The majority (88.2%, 95% CI = 85.5%-91.1%) of the 502 isolates were susceptible to penicillin. There was no significant temporal trend of elevation of resistance rate during the study period (p=0.56). We conclude that resistance of S. pneumoniae to penicillin is not yet an important clinical-epidemiological concern in the State of Minas Gerais. To provide necessary support for the adoption of therapeutic and prophylactic measures, epidemiological surveillance should be implemented at a national level to monitor the profile of susceptibility/resistance of S. pneumoniae to penicillin and other antimicrobials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatry, Medical School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Avenida Alfredo Balena 190, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria B M
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Bedran
authors.forename: Paulo A M
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Camargos
authors.forename: Geraldo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leocádio Filho
authors.forename: Renata M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bedran
authors.forename: Henrique C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Najar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D010068:Oxacillin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010068:Oxacillin