Antimicrobial susceptibilities of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia in Japan.
OBJECTIVE
Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is the most common pathogen associated with community-acquired pneumonia and its resistance to antimicrobials is a worldwide problem. The aim of this study was to investigate the current drug susceptibilities of S. pneumoniae isolated from adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia in Japan.


METHODS
S. pneumoniae strains isolated from adult patients with pneumococcal pneumonia from 10 institutions were collected prospectively between May 2003 and October 2004 and tested for drug susceptibilities. Clinical data were analysed and the risk factors for drug resistance investigated.


RESULTS
A total of 141 isolates of S. pneumoniae were analysed. Of these S. pneumoniae isolates, 46.1% had intermediate penicillin resistance and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) occurring in the greatest number of isolates and MIC90 value was 2 microg/mL. The prevalence of resistance to macrolides was 80%, with the MIC90 values being greater than or equal to 16 microg/mL. Approximately 40% of the strains were resistant to oral third-generation cephems. Penicillin and erythromycin resistance were both associated with the pre-existing chronic disease states.


CONCLUSIONS
The cephem and macrolide resistance of S. pneumoniae was higher than penicillin resistance in adult patients with community-acquired pneumococcal pneumonia in Japan. We recommend that bacterial identification and sensitivities are determined in areas where the macrolide resistance to S. pneumoniae is high.
Ishida
Tadashi
T
Kansai Community-acquired Pneumococcal Pneumonia Study Group, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan. ishidat@kchnet.or.jp
Maniwa
Ko
K
Kagioka
Hitoshi
H
Hirabayashi
Masataka
M
Onaru
Koichi
K
Tomioka
Hiromi
H
Hayashi
Michio
M
Tomii
Keisuke
K
Gohma
Iwao
I
Ito
Yutaka
Y
Hirai
Toyohiro
T
Ito
Isao
I
Mishima
Michiaki
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents