RAPID INCREASE OF PNEUMOCOCCAL RESISTANCE TO BETA-LACTAM AND OTHER ANTIBIOTICS IN ISOLATES FROM THE RESPIRATORY-TRACT (NAGASAKI, JAPAN - 1975-1994)

The susceptibility of 101 pneumococcal isolates from the respiratory t ract during 1991-1994 was examined and compared with the susceptibilit y of isolates over the period of 1975-1990, A rapid increase of resist ance was seen not only to penicillin but also other antimicrobial agen ts. During 1991-1994, 38% of all the isolates were resistant to penici llin. The rates of resistance during this period were 16-23% for three newer cephalosporins, 18% for imipenem, 69% for tetracycline, 31% for erythromycin, 20% for chloramphenicol and 9% for clindamycin. The use of antibiotics within one month prior to pneumococcal isolation was c orrelated with penicillin resistance (P < 0.05). Serotyping of the iso lates by antiserum revealed differences in predominant types between p enicillin-resistant (19F, 23F, 4) and -susceptible isolates (15, 4, 11 A). Our data suggests that anti-pneumococcal antibiotics should be car efully chosen on the basis of susceptibility tests.