title: Changes in macrolide resistance among respiratory pathogens after decreased erythromycin consumption in Taiwan.
abstract: Measures to alleviate the growing problem of macrolide resistance in Taiwan resulted in a decrease in macrolide consumption, from 0.629 defined daily doses/1000 inhabitants per day (DIDs) in 1999 to 0.301 DIDs in 2003 (a reduction of 52%). A linear relationship was observed between the decline in erythromycin consumption and the decline in erythromycin resistance in Streptococcus pyogenes (46% in 1999 vs. 17% in 2003; p < 0.001) and azithromycin resistance in Haemophilus influenzae (31% in 2000 vs. 0% in 2003; p < 0.001). However, the rate of erythromycin resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae showed a continued increase, from 80.2% in 1999 to 92% in 2003.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei. hsporen@ha.mc.ntu.edu.tw
authors.forename: P-R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Hsueh
authors.forename: J-M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Shyr
authors.forename: J-J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004363:Drug Utilization; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000187:drug effects; D006291:Health Policy; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000187:drug effects; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004917:Erythromycin; D017963:Azithromycin