The drug-resistant pneumococcus - Clinical relevance, therapy, and prevention

Streptococcus pneumoniae has been known for > 100 years as the most importa nt bacterial pathogen of the respiratory tract in adults and children. In r ecent years, the pneumococcus has begun to exhibit increasing resistance to antimicrobial agents. Because of the huge number of infections caused by t his organism, the development of resistance has changed the approach to man y infectious disease problems, particularly with regard to empiric antibiot ic therapy and prophylaxis. In our review of the antibiotic-resistant pneum ococcus, we review the microbiologic basis for resistance, risk factors for and clinical relevance of infection by a resistant organism, and infection control measures.