COMMUNITY-ACQUIRED PNEUMONIA IN THE MONTP ELLIER REGION - RISE IN FREQUENCY OF REDUCED PENICILLIN SENSITIVE PNEUMOCOCCI

Objectives: Bacteriological data indicate that there is an increased i ncidence of Streptococcus pneumoniae strains with an intermediate sens itivity to penicillin, The goals of the present study was i) to invest igate the profile of sensitivity of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from patients with bacterial pneumonia in the area of Montpellier and ii) to compare this profile with the findings of the national center r egistry to better appreciate geographical specificity. Methods: Fifty- six patients with bacterial pneumonia were enrolled into the study, Fr om September 1989 to March 1991, we performed bacterial sampling inclu ding blood cultures, protected brushes and bronchoalveolar lavage spec imens, We examined the antibiotic sensitivity of the germs which were isolated, All patients were followed using clinical and radiological c riteria. Results: A precise bacteriological diagnosis was established in 83.6% of the population, Streptococcus pneumoniae was found in 47.2 % of the samples, In 19%, the strains displayed an intermediate sensit ivity to penicillin, All patients recovered. Conclusion: We found a hi gher rate of resistance to penicillin in Montpellier than the common r ate of the national reference center in France, The location of Montpe llier closed to the Spanish border might, at least in part, explain th is difference.