Streptococcus pneumoniae with reduced sensitivity to penicillin in the Monastir region

Abstract

The spectacular emergence in recent years of strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae with reduced sensitivity to penicillin constitutes a real public health problem. In this study conducted at the Microbiology Department of CHU Fattouma Bourguiba Hospital in Monastir, we aimed to investigate the epidemiological profile of strains of penicillin-resistant pneumococcus isolated over a 2-year period (2002-2003). This study involved 170 non-redundant strains. Analysis of antibiotic sensitivity revealed a prevalence of 18.8% for reduced sensitivity to penicillin. Resistance of penicillin-resistant pneumococci to other antibiotics was common: 75% of strains with reduced penicillin sensitivity were resistant to erythromycin, and 35% were resistant to cotrimoxazole. No resistance to rifampicin or vancomycin was observed. This study positioned us among regions with moderate prevalence, which should encourage us to better understand the problem through the study of risk factors and the establishment of recommendations for initial treatments.