The increasing prevalence of clindamycin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus isolates in children with head and neck abscesses.
OBJECTIVE
To retrospectively review trends in clindamycin resistance among Staphylococcus aureus head and neck abscesses between January 2000 and June 2008.


METHODS
Between January 2000 and June 2008, inpatient and out-patient S aureus isolates were reviewed for antibiotic susceptibility. In particular, cultures from 153 abscesses in the head and neck region were assessed for clindamycin and methicillin resistance patterns.


RESULTS
Annual clindamycin resistance rates for all S aureus isolates, and specifically for S aureus head and neck abscesses, revealed concerning levels of clindamycin and methicillin resistance. After 2002, the mean clindamycin resistance rate in head and neck abscesses was approximately 27%. The number of new cases of methicillin-resistant S aureus per year increased from four cases in 2000 to 44 cases in 2007.


CONCLUSIONS
Antibiotic resistance should be considered following failed empirical therapy of head and neck abscesses with clindamycin.
Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery;
Ashlin J
AJ
Alexander
Susan E
SE
Richardson
Alok
A
Sharma
Paolo
P
Campisi