REGIONAL EPIDEMIOLOGIC INVESTIGATIONS ON ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANCE OF STREPTOCOCCUS-PNEUMONIAE - PRELIMINARY-RESULTS FROM 6 REGIONAL CENTERS

Between November 1994 and February 1996, 4365 strains of pneumococci w ere collected by 72 microbiology laboratories in relation with regiona l survey units (observatories) in Cote d'Azur-Alpes, Franche Comte, Lo rraine, Marseille, Nord-Pas de Calais and Picardie. The prevalence of pneumococci with a decreased susceptibility to penicillin varied from 20.7% to 40% according to the location. These strains were more freque ntly isolated in children, in acute otitis media specimen and in non p rotected respiratory specimens. The resistance to macrolides varied fr om 23 to 45% according to location and the resistance to cotrimoxazole from 24 to 39%. Strains with high level MICs of amoxycillin or cefota xime (MIG > 2 mg/l) were scarce. These epidemiological surveys allowed to assess the local impact of the pneumococci resistance to antibioti cs thanks to extensive collection and study.