The Activity of Levofloxacin and Comparator Agents against Clinical Isolates of <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> Collected Worldwide during 1999 and 2000

Abstract

Background: Increases in penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae have been documented worldwide. Methods: During 1999 and 2000, 5,015 S. pneumoniae isolates were collected from 13 countries on five continents and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. Results: Penicillin resistance rates were as follows: South Korea, 70.1%; Hong Kong, 50.3%; Thailand, 39.3%; France, 28.7%; Spain, 24.8%; Mexico, 18.1%; Ireland, 11.8%; South Africa, 11.1%; Italy, 9.4%; United Kingdom, 3.1%; Brazil, 2.9%; China, 2.3%, and Germany, 0.7%. Resistance to azithromycin, clarithromycin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was commonly associated with penicillin resistance. Levofloxacin-resistant isolates were detected in 8 of 13 countries: Germany (0.2%), France (0.4%), Thailand (0.5%), South Korea (0.9%), Mexico (1.5%), Spain (1.6%), China (3.3%) and Hong Kong (8.0%). Multidrug resistance (resistance to ≧3 antimicrobial classes) occurred in 626/5,015 isolates (12.5%). Levofloxacin was active against 96.0% (601/626) of the multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates and 99.7% (4,374/4,389) of the non-MDR isolates. Conclusion: Although relatively high levels of levofloxacin resistance were detected in China and Hong Kong, overall, levofloxacin remained active against >99% of clinical isolates of S. pneumoniae despite their resistance to other agents. Continued surveillance of S. pneumoniae will track any changes in levofloxacin activity, should they occur.

Colonização nasofaríngea pelo Streptococcus pneumoniae em crianças com doença falciforme usando penicilina profilática

“…In our sample we found 42.9% of strains were resistant to levofloxacin, which conflicts with published literature in which 99% of pneumococcus strains isolated were sensitive to this antimicrobial. 25 Despite our sample being small, this result indicates greater than expected resistance. The frequency of pneumococcal resistance to ceftriaxone remains low, with rates varying from 0 to 8% depending on location.…”

In vitro Activity of Telithromycin against Respiratory Tract Pathogens in Comparison with Other Antimicrobial Agents

“…In our findings, moxifloxacin was more active than levofloxacin with MIC 90 4-fold lower and all our isolates were sensitive to moxifloxacin. The prevalence of levofloxacin-resistant S. pneumoniae ranged from 0.2 to 3.3% [9, 10, 12]. In this study, the prevalence of levofloxacillin-resistant S. pneumoniae was low (1.5%) but the resistance rate was relatively high (13.3%) according to another group of researchers in 2000 [11].…”

“…Penicillin remains an effective, inexpensive treatment for RTIs [2]. However, Hong Kong had a higher rate of penicillin-nonsusceptible S. pneumoniae [8] when compared to other parts of the world ranging from 5.9 to 8.7% [2, 9, 10]. The percentages of penicillin-nonsusceptible S. pneumoniae in Hong Kong in 1996–2003 ranged from 49.3 to 60.6% [8, 9, 11, 12].…”

In Vivo Efficacies and Pharmacokinetics of DX-619, a Novel Des-Fluoro(6) Quinolone, against Streptococcus pneumoniae in a Mouse Lung Infection Model

“…In Japan, the proportions of penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae (PRSP) are reported to be 38.4 to 59.7% (24,25). Resistance rates are as high as 50.3% in Hong Kong and 70.1% in South Korea (12). Unfortunately, S. pneumoniae is becoming increasingly resistant to a variety of antibiotics.…”