Antimicrobial resistance among clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the United States during 1999-2000, including a comparison of resistance rates since 1994-1995

A total of 1,531 recent clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae were collected from 33 medical centers nationwide during the winter of 1999-2000 and characterized at a central laboratory. Of these isolates, 34.2% were p enicillin nonsusceptible (MIC greater than or equal to 0.12 mug/ml) and 21. 5% were high-level resistant (MIC greater than or equal to 2 mug/ml). MICs to all beta-lactam antimicrobials increased as penicillin MICs increased. R esistance rates among non-beta-lactam agents were the following: macrolides , 25.2 to 25.7%; clindamycin, 8.9%; tetracycline, 16.3%; chloramphenicol, 8 .3%; and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), 30.3%. Resistance to non- betalactam agents was higher among penicillin-resistant strains than penici llin-susceptible strains; 22.4% of S. pneumoniae were multiresistant, Resis tance to vancomycin and quinupristin-dalfopristin was not detected. Resista nce to rifampin was 0.1%. Testing of seven fluoroquinolones resulted in the following rank order of in vitro activity: gemifloxacin > sitafloxacin > m oxifloxacin > gatifloxacin > levofloxacin = ciprofloxacin > ofloxacin, For 1.4% of strains, ciprofloxacin MICs were greater than or equal to 4 mug/ml. The MIC(90)s (MICs at which 90% of isolates were inhibited) of two ketolid es were 0.06 mug/ml (ABT773) and 0.12 mug/ml (telithromycin), The MIG,, of linezolid was 2 mug/ml. Overall, antimicrobial resistance was highest among middle ear fluid and sinus isolates of S. pneumoniae; lowest resistance ra tes were noted with isolates from cerebrospinal fluid and blood. Resistant isolates were most often recovered from children 0 to 5 years of age and fr om patients in the southeastern United States. This study represents a cont inuation of two previous national studies, one in 1994-1995 and the other i n 1997-1998, Resistance rates with S. pneumoniae have increased markedly in the United States during the past 5 years. Increases in resistance from 19 94-1995 to 1999-2000 for selected antimicrobial agents were as follows: pen icillin, 10.6%; erythromycin, 16.1%; tetracycline, 9.0%; TMP-SMX, 9.1%; and chloramphenicol, 4.0%, the increase in multiresistance was 13.3%, Despite awareness and prevention efforts, antimicrobial resistance with S, pneumoni ae continues to increase in the United States.