Erythromycin-resistant Streptococcus pyogenes

Decreased activity of erythromycin against Streptococcus pyogenes in Taiwan

“…In 1959, Lowburry and Hurst (14) first reported the decreased potency of erythromycin against S. pyogenes isolates. Since then, similar observations have been reported in many parts of the world (3,10,12,15,19,(20)(21)(22)24). In most countries, erythromycin shows limited activity against only a few clinical isolates of S. pyogenes.…”

Antibiotic susceptibility of group A streptococci: a 6-year follow-up study

“…We suggest that increased use of erythromycin has contributed to the appearance of and the continuing increase in resistance to this antibiotic described in several countries (14,15,17,21), although a wide range of geographical variations has been observed.…”

“…Since 1959, when the first erythromycin-resistant GAS was described by Lowbury and Hurst (9), resistance to this antibiotic has been reported from several countries, with important variations in the resistance rates in different geographic areas; in 1979, Maruyama et al (10) in Japan reported erythromycin resistance in 61.8% of GAS isolates, and in other parts of the world erythromycin-resistant GAS strains have occasionally been isolated, with resistance rates ranging from 0.7% (13) to 2 to 5% (1,5,6,16,19,20). In the last 5 years, an increased incidence has been reported from several centers (14,15,17,21).In 1987 we studied the susceptibility of 93 GAS isolates from clinical specimens to some commonly prescribed antibiotics (2) and reported the incidence of GAS strains resistant to erythromycin (3.3%), clindamycin (4.3%), and tetracycline (2.2%).The purpose of the present study was twofold: to ascertain whether the frequency of such resistant strains in our hospital had increased from 1987 to 1992 and also to determine the MICs of some of the newer oral antimicrobial agents against GAS.A total of 330 GAS strains isolated from clinical specimens between January 1988 and September 1992 in the Hospital Universitario San Carlos, Madrid, Spain, were studied, and the results were compared with those obtained with 93 strains isolated in 1987. Of the 330 GAS strains evaluated, we collected 80 in 1988, 74 in 1989, 76 in 1990, and 100 from * Corresponding author.…”

“…Since 1959, when the first erythromycin-resistant GAS was described by Lowbury and Hurst (9), resistance to this antibiotic has been reported from several countries, with important variations in the resistance rates in different geographic areas; in 1979, Maruyama et al (10) in Japan reported erythromycin resistance in 61.8% of GAS isolates, and in other parts of the world erythromycin-resistant GAS strains have occasionally been isolated, with resistance rates ranging from 0.7% (13) to 2 to 5% (1,5,6,16,19,20). In the last 5 years, an increased incidence has been reported from several centers (14,15,17,21).…”

Antibiotic Susceptibility of Streptococcus Pyogenes Strains Isolated From Throat Cultures of Children With Tonsillopharyngitis

“…During the past three decades, numerous reports have demonstrated a significant prevalence of erythromycin resistant S. pyogenes around the world (4-10). Furthermore, several reports have demonstrated that the increase in the incidence of erythromycin resistant S. pyogenes strains is related to increased macrolide consumption in the community (22)(23)(24)(25)(26). Macrolide antibiotics, especially new ones such as clarithromycin and azithromycin, are widely selected for the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections such as sore throat in our country.…”