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 Original Articles |
| Antimicrobial Susceptibilities of Streptococcus pneumoniae Isolated from Clinical Specimens in Southeastern Area of Korea |
| Joseph Jeong, Jeong Hwan Shin, Chulhun L. Chang, Han Chul Son, Seok Hun Jeong1, Yong Sung Lee2, Byoung Kuk Kim3, Chae Hun Lee4, and Sung Ryul Kim5 |
| Department of Clinical Pathology Pusan National University College of Medicine, Ko-Sin University College of Medicine1, Pusan Adventist Hospital2 and Hae-Dong Hospital3 Pusan, Korea; Young-Nam University College of Medicine4, Daegu, Korea; Ulsan University College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea5 |
Vol.17 Num.2 (p129~135)
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Background : The resistance rate of Streptococcus pneumoniae to penicillin has been rapidly increasing worldwide, and treatment failures coupled with severe infections due to penicillin-resistant S. pnemoniae have been reported. In this study, we evaluated antimicrobial susceptibilities of S. pnemoniae isolated from clinical specimens in the Southeastern area of Korea.
Methods: A total of 61 pneumococcal isolates obtained from patients who visited or were admitted to 5 hospitals in the Southeastern area of Korea during the period 1997 to 1998. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests for 61 isolates were performed using disk diffusion or agar dilution methods.
Results : Penicillin susceptibility tests showed that 91.8% and 90.2% of isolates were not susceptible to penicillin by oxacillin disk diffusion and dilution methods, respectively. Moderate and high level resistance rate to penicillin were 37.7% and 52.5%, respectively. Using the oxacillin disk diffusion method, we failed to find one among 6 penicillin-susceptible isolates, with 16.7% major error. Moderate and high level resistance rate to ceftriaxone were 42.6% and 11.5%, respectively. The concomitant resistance rate to penicillin and ceftriaxone was 54.1% of the total and 60.0% of penicillin-resistant isolates. Resistance rates of the isolates to vancomycin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and tetracycline were 0%, 21%, 82%, 79%, and 84%, respectively. Multidrug-resistance to three or more classes of antimicrobials was 59.0%. Conclusion: In this study, we revealed that extremely high resistance rate of S. pneumoniae to many antimicrobial agents in Southeastern area of Korea.
Therefore, accurate susceptibility tests to penicillin, 3rd generation cephalosporin and other antimicrobial agents are highly recommended for adequate treatment of severe pneumococcal infections.
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Keywords : Streptococcus pneumoniae, Antimicrobial resistance, Penicillin, Ceftriaxone, Multidrug-resistance |
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