Antimicrobial susceptibility of Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus pneumoniae: surveillance from 1993 to 2004 in Central Italy

J Chemother. 2006 Aug;18(4):389-93. doi: 10.1179/joc.2006.18.4.389.

Abstract

The susceptibility of 1870 Streptococcus pyogenes and 1595 Streptococcus pneumoniae to macrolides and lincosamides has been monitored from 1993 to 2004 in Central Italy. Among S. pyogenes, 30.2% were erythromycin resistant; 18.5% were also resistant to josamycin and clindamycin (MLS phenotype). After an increasing erythromycin resistance rate in 1993-1997 (maximum 53.16%), a definite decrease was observed since 2001 with resistance rates always less than 30%. Thirty six percent of pneumococcal isolates were erythromycin-resistant, with minor temporal fluctuations; the MLS phenotype was the most prevalent overall (32.6%) and in individual years. S. pneumoniae strains were also tested for susceptibility to beta-lactams and other antimicrobial agents: 11.2% were penicillin non-susceptible, with a gradually increasing prevalence after 2001 (maximum rate 17.3% in 2004), 31.15% were resistant to tetracycline, 4.9% to chloramphenicol, 0.74% to rifampin. All pneumococcal isolates were susceptible to teicoplanin and 99.9% to ceftriaxone and ofloxacin.

MeSH terms

  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial*
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Lincosamides
  • Macrolides / pharmacology
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / drug effects*
  • Streptococcus pyogenes / drug effects*
  • beta-Lactam Resistance

Substances

  • Lincosamides
  • Macrolides