RAPID INCREASE OF RESISTANCE TO ERYTHROMYCIN AND CLINDAMYCIN IN STREPTOCOCCUS-PYOGENES IN ITALY, 1993-1995

A survey of antibiotic resistance in Streptococcus pyogenes in Italy s howed a sharp increase in erythromycin resistance. In 1993, the incide nce of erythromycin-resistant strains was on average 5.1%, with marked variations by geographic area. Two years later, the incidence of thes e strains had registered a 1.5- to roughly 20-fold increase, with a me an value of 25.9%, exceeding 40% in three centers out of 13 and 30% in another four. For all the strains studied, normal levels of susceptib ility to penicillin were reported.