ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY OF STREPTOCOCCUS-PNEUMONIAE ISOLATED FROM PEDIATRIC CARRIERS IN SPAIN

The in vitro activity of several beta-lactam agents, macrolides, and c otrimoxazole was investigated against 53 Streptococcus pneumoniae isol ates recovered from healthy children. The rates of resistance to penic illin or amoxicillin, cefaclor, and cefuroxime were 30%, 51%, and 37%, respectively, No cefotaxime-resistant isolates were found. Rates of r esistance to erythromycin, clarithromycin, and cotrimoxazole were 22.6 %, 13.2%, and 83%, respectively, Pneumococci with divergent antimicrob ial susceptibility profiles (susceptible or moderately resistant vs. r esistant isolates) coexisted in 32% samples, with divergencies more of ten involving p-lactam agents and/or macrolides. In five of these samp les, isolates belonged to different serotypes.