High rates of resistance to cephalosporins among viridans-group streptococci causing bacteraemia in neutropenic cancer patients

The prevalence of resistance to cephalosporins among viridans-group strepto cocci causing 88 (18%) cases among 485 bacteraemias in neutropenic cancer p atients was studied. Rates of resistance to ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, cefpi rome and cefepime were 22, 53, 14 and 34%, respectively. Previous administr ation of(l-lactam therapy was the only factor significantly associated with bacteraemia due to cephalosporin-resistant strains; only 11 (16%) of 68 pa tients infected with cephalosporin-susceptible bacteria had received these antibiotics compared with 10(50%) of 20 patients infected with cephalospori n-resistant bacteria (P = 0.0052).