Jpn. J. Infect. Dis., 58, 20-24, 2005

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Original Article

Pneumococcal Infections in Trinidad: Patterns of Antimicrobial Susceptibility: 1994 - 2002

Fitzroy A. Orrett*

Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Eric Williams Medical Sciences, Champ Fleurs, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies

(Received March 8, 2004. Accepted October 5, 2004)


*Corresponding author: Mailing address: P.O. Box 371, Curepe Post Office, Curepe, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. E-mail: drfao4301@yahoo.com


SUMMARY: Antimicrobial susceptibilities of 156 Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated from 1994 through 2002 were studied. Of this total, 38.7, 26.3, 16.7, 8.9, and 9.6% were recovered from patients with bacteremia, pneumonia, otitis media, sinusitis, and meningitis, respectively. All S. pneumoniae strains were fully susceptible to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and ampicillin, with 9.0 and 2.6% being resistant to penicillin and ceftriaxone, respectively. The ratios of resistant strains to tetracycline, co-trimoxazole, and chloramphenicol were 73.7, 69.3, and 63.5%, respectively. Approximately 90% of strains remain sensitive to erythromycin. A high prevalence of resistance to the penicillins and cephalosporins does not exist in Trinidad, although a trend toward such a patter appears to be developing n. The most frequent serotype was 14 (38.0%), followed by 6B (20%), 23F (10.3%), and 4 (6.4%), and all were recovered from children. The other serotypes accounted for <6% of the total isolates. All penicillin- and ceftriaxone-resistant strains belonged to serotype 14 (MIC >/= 2 mg/ml and >/= 4 mg/ml), respectively. Identifiable risk factors for resistant isolates included the prevalence of otitis media and sinusitis among children treated inadequately with oral cephalosporins; the ease of obtaining antibiotics without a prescription at many pharmacies; and the indiscriminate prescribing of antibiotics by general practitioners.


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