title: Trends in antimicrobial susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the Tohoku district of Japan: a longitudinal analysis from 1998 to 2007.
abstract: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common cause of respiratory tract infections (RTIs). The prevalence of Streptococcus pneumoniae strains with reduced susceptibility to antimicrobial agents has dramatically increased worldwide. Susceptibility to nine antimicrobial agents and serotypes were determined among 1,644 Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated from patients with RTIs in the Tohoku district of Japan from October to December every year from 1998 to 2007. The prevalence of penicillin G-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae (PNSP) strains increased gradually from 48.5% in 1998, reached a statistical peak in 2004 (65.1%) and then decreased to 51.5% in 2007. Streptococcus pneumoniae strains with each serotype 3, 6, 19 and 23 were constantly detected, and the distribution of these serotypes in PNSP strains did not significantly change during the study period. A trend of Streptococcus pneumoniae strains nonsusceptible to other beta-lactams tested was similar to that of PNSP strains, except for cefditoren, to which the resistance rate was < 20% throughout the analysis period. The prevalence of strains nonsusceptible to erythromycin and minocycline were consistently > 60%. Almost all penicillin G-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP) strains were resistant to both erythromycin and minocycline throughout the analysis period. The prevalence of strains resistant to fluoroquinolones tested were < 3% over the study period. Our longitudinal surveillance demonstrated for the first time that decreased prevalence of both beta-lactam- and multidrug-resistant strains has been occurring since 2004 in a region of Japan. Careful monitoring of antimicrobial susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae should be continued.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Tohoku Pharmaceutical University, Sendai, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazumasa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Katsushi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishimaki
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okuyama
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Katoh
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yasujima
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chihara
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suwabe
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.forename: Choichiro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ida
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaku
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nukiwa
authors.forename: Kazunao
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Niitsuma
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kanemitsu
authors.forename: Motoaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takayanagi
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ohno
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003710:Demography; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D007564:Japan; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000494:pharmacology; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000382:microbiology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010400:Penicillin G