MEROPENEM SUSCEPTIBILITY OF NEISSERIA-MENINGITIDIS AND STREPTOCOCCUS-PNEUMONIAE FROM MENINGITIS PATIENTS IN THE NETHERLANDS

In-vitro susceptibility of 299 Neisseria meningitidis and 157 Streptoc occus pneumoniae strains from meningitis patients in The Netherlands i n 1993 and 1994 to meropenem was determined using the Etest. Susceptib ility to penicillin, ceftriaxone, and chloramphenicol was also determi ned. Rifampicin susceptibility was additionally tested for N. meningit idis. Of the meningococci, 4.3% were of intermediate resistance to pen icillin and 0.3% were resistant to rifampicin. One pneumococcal isolat e (0.6%) was of intermediate resistance to penicillin. All strains wer e susceptible to meropenem. We conclude that meropenem is in vitro hig hly active against N. meningitidis and S. pneumoniae.