title: Antibiotic susceptibility of pathogens isolated from patients with community-acquired respiratory tract infections in Pakistan--the active study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are amongst the most wide spread and serious infections, accounting for over 50 million deaths globally each year. In developing countries, infants under 4 years of age are at greatest risk of lower RTIs, whereas in developed countries the severity of infection and rate of mortality are greater in elderly. The objective of the survey was to determine the in vitro susceptibility of antibiotics commonly prescribed RTIs against Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP), Haemophilus influenzae (HI) and Streptococcus pyogenes, isolated from patients with community-acquired RTIs globally. This survey involved 9 countries. In this study we present the results from Pakistan where SP and HI only were tested.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 200 isolates were included in the study. Both SP and HI were in equal number. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by using Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines and E test for determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration. For non-US products the Committee of the Antibiogram of the French Society of Microbiology Breakpoints was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All SP were found susceptible to amoxicillin, co-amoxiclave and cefixime, 72% isolates were found sensitive to macrolide and 97% to levofloxacin. All HI were found sensitive to co-amoxiclave and to cefixime, 97% to ampicillin, 98% to clarithromycin and 99% to levofloxacin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In isolates collected from Pakistan, SP resistance rate was elevated for macrolide. SP and HI remain susceptible to beta-lactams as well as to levofloxacin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Microbiology, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Afia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zafar
authors.forename: Zahid
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: Eale
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lomama
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sibille
authors.forename: Seema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Irfan
authors.forename: Erum
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D003625:Data Collection; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents