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Streptococcus pneumoniae: An Update on Resistance Patterns in the United States

Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Alabama, Department of Pharmacy Services, Princeton Baptist Medical Center, Birmingham, Alabama, jas0003{at}auburn.edu

Georgia W. Fox, PharmD, BCPS

Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Alabama

Jennifer K. Clayton, PharmD, BCPS

Department of Pharmacy Services, Princeton Baptist Medical Center, Birmingham, Alabama

Streptococcus pneumoniae represents an important pathogen in numerous community-acquired respiratory infections. Penicillin resistance to Streptococcus pneumoniae in the United States has approached 35%. Additionally, there has been a significant increase in Streptococcus pneumoniae resistance among many other antimicrobial agents such as cephalosporins, macrolides, trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole, clindamycin, tetracyclines, and chloramphenicol. Several nationwide surveillance programs have been implemented to quantify the prevalence of Streptococcus pneumoniae resistance in the United States. Overall, beta-lactam, macrolide, trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole, and tetracycline resistance has increased over the past decade while later generation fluoroquinolones (levofloxacin and moxifloxacin) resistance has remained low. Controlling the spread of resistant pneumococcal isolates and preventing the development of both fluoroquinolone and multidrug resistant isolates will require a multidisciplinary approach involving physicians, pharmacists, microbiologists, and epidemiologists.

Key Words: streptococcus pneumoniae • multidrug resistance • epidemiology • antimicrobials

This version was published on October 1, 2008

Journal of Pharmacy Practice, Vol. 21, No. 5, 363-370 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0897190008318496


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