Title
Antibiotic resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae among healthy nasopharyngeal carriers in seven regions of Peru
Other title
Resistencia antibiótica de Streptococcus pneumoniae en portadores nasofarÃngeos sanos de siete regiones del Perú
Date Issued
01 January 2013
Access level
metadata only access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Torres N.
Velásquez R.
MejÃa L.
Letona C.
Valencia A.G.
Cerpa R.
López-de-Romaña B.
Torres B.
Castillo F.
Calle A.
Rabanal S.
Pando J.
Lacroix E.
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
Publisher(s)
Instituto Nacional de Salud
Abstract
Objectives. To determine the pattern of antibiotic susceptibility of isolated Streptococcus pneumoniae strains of healthy nasopharyngeal carriers younger than 2 years in seven regions of Peru. Materials and methods. Between 2007 and 2009, nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected among 2123 healthy children aged 2-24 months in growth and development medical practices (CRED) and vaccination offices of hospitals and health centers in Lima, Piura, Cusco, Abancay, Arequipa, Huancayo, and Iquitos. The resistance to ten antibiotics through disk diffusion sensitivity testing of isolated pneumococcus strains was determined. Results. 572 strains were isolated. High rates of resistance to co-trimoxazole (58%), penicillin (52.2% non-sensitive); tetracycline (29,1%); azithromycin (28,9%), and erythromycin (26,3%). Resistance to chloramphenicol was low (8.8%). Multiresistance was found at 29.5%. Resistance to azithromycin and penicillin was different in all seven regions (p<0,05), the highest percentage of non-sensitive strains being found in Arequipa (63,6%), whereas the lowest percentage was found in Cusco (23.4%). Conclusions. High levels of resistance found to penicillin, co-trimoxasole and macrolides in isolated pneumococcus strains of healthy carriers in all studied regions, and their association to a previous use of antibiotics, represent a significant public health problem in our country. This emphasizes the need to implement nationwide strategies to reduce the irrational use of antibiotics, especially among children. It is necessary to complement data of resistance to penicillin with the determination of minimal inhibitory concentration to make proper therapeutic recommendations.
Start page
575
End page
582
Volume
30
Issue
4
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Enfermedades infecciosas
Sistema respiratorio
FarmacologÃa, Farmacia
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-84892586727
PubMed ID
Source
Revista Peruana de Medicina Experimental y Salud Publica
ISSN of the container
17264634
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción CientÃfica
Scopus