title: Antimicrobial resistance of respiratory pathogens in North African countries.
abstract: This study reports the antimicrobial resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pyogenes isolated from patients in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. 672 non-duplicate isolates were recovered from May 2006 to May 2007. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using the E-test and interpreted according to EUCAST guidelines. Among 236 S. pneumoniae, 47% were penicillin non-susceptible (PNSP) with 3% of strains being highly resistant; 20.4% and 17.4% had decreased susceptibility to amoxicillin and cefotaxime, respectively. Dual resistance to penicillin and erythromycin was observed in 30.1%. All isolates were susceptible to levofloxacin except one. Among 262 H. influenzae, 13.3% were amoxicillin-resistant and beta-lactamase producers. Two isolates were beta-lactamase-positive and amoxicillin-clavulanate-resistant. All isolates were susceptible to cefixime, cefotaxime and levofloxacin. All S. pyogenes (174) were susceptible to beta-lactams with 5.7% resistant to erythromycin. Five had decreased susceptibility to levofloxacin. These data on respiratory tract pathogens indicate the high prevalence of PNSP in North African countries.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Hôpital Universitaire International Cheikh Zaid - Rabat - Morocco.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benouda
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ben Redjeb
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hammami
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sibille
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tazir
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ramdani-Bouguessa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000352:Africa, Northern; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D005260:Female; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents