A multicenter study of the antimicrobial susceptibility of Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Moraxella catarrhalis isolated from patients with community-acquired lower respiratory tract infections in 1999 in Portugal

Microb Drug Resist. 2001 Spring;7(1):33-8. doi: 10.1089/107662901750152747.

Abstract

A nationwide multicenter study (including 25 laboratories) of the antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial pathogens commonly associated with community-acquired lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI), with testing undertaken in a central laboratory, was conducted in Portugal in 1999. Antimicrobial resistance in Haemophilus influenzae has not increased in the last decade. Of the 498 isolates tested, 12.4% produced beta-lactamase and >95% were susceptible to all antimicrobials except ampicillin. In contrast, there was a rapid increase of resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae. Of the 312 isolates tested, 24.7% exhibited decreased susceptibility to penicillin (13.5% showed low-level and 11.2% high-level resistance), 13.8% were resistant to erythromycin, clarithromycin and azithromycin, and 13.6% to cefuroxime and to tetracycline. Of the 38 Moraxella catarrhalis tested, 81.6% produced beta-lactamase. Resistance to penicillin, cefuroxime, erythromycin, clarithromycin, and azithromycin in S. pneumoniae and beta-lactamase production in H. influenzae were significantly higher in pediatric patients than in adults. Overall, amoxycillin/clavulanate was the most active antimicrobial agent in vitro against H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae, and M. catarrhalis isolated from patients with community-acquired LRTI in Portugal.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Child
  • Community-Acquired Infections / microbiology
  • Drug Resistance, Microbial
  • Haemophilus influenzae / drug effects*
  • Haemophilus influenzae / enzymology
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Moraxella catarrhalis / drug effects*
  • Moraxella catarrhalis / enzymology
  • Portugal
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / epidemiology
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / microbiology*
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / drug effects*
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / enzymology
  • beta-Lactamases / analysis
  • beta-Lactamases / metabolism

Substances

  • beta-Lactamases