Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Penicillin resistance in laboratory isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae, in Western Australia, 1990–1994

  • Published:
European Journal of Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Increasing frequency of penicillin resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae has been reported worldwide. We report on clinical isolates of penicillin-resistant pneumococci (PRP) in Western Australia (WA) from 1990–1994. A retrospective survey of laboratories performing susceptibility testing, or receiving isolates referred from rural areas found resistant on oxacillin disc screening, was undertaken. Four of 11 laboratories could provide data for the five year time period inclusive. Information was provided on susceptibility to penicillin, type of specimen, date of isolation and; age, sex and race of individuals with PRP. Penicillin resistance increased from 1.3% to 9.0% over the five year period. PRP were rarely invasive. Highest age specific rates per 100,000 were found in children < 5 years (19.4) and adults ≥ 60 years (5.1). Aboriginal ethnicity was associated with resistance. The increasing frequency of PRP in WA indicates the need for surveillance systems for their detection.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Tuomanen E, Austrian R, Masure H. Pathogenesis of pneumococcal infection. N Engl J Med 1995; 332: 1280–1283.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Reichler M, Rakovsky J, Sobotova A, et al. Multiple antimicrobial resistance of pneumococci in children with otitis media, bacteremia, and meningitis in Slovakia. J Infect Dis 1995; 171: 1491–1496.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Manninen R, Huovinem P, Nissinen A. Increasing antimicrobial resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moxarella catarrhalis in Finland. J Antimicrob Chemother 1997; 40: 387–392.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Hansman D, Bullen M. A resistant pneumococcus [letter]. Lancet 1967; 264–265.

  5. Dean AG, Dean JA, Burton AH, Dicker RC. EPI INFO, Version 5: A word processing, database, and statistical program for epidemiology on microcomputers. USD, Incorporated, Stone Mountain, Georgia 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Hansman D, Devitt L, Miles H, Riley I. Pneumococci relatively insensitive to penicillin in Australia and New Guinea. Med J Aust 1974; 2: 353–356.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Collignon P, Bell J. Drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae: The beginning of the end for many antibiotics? Med J Aust 1996; 164: 64–67.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Cooper G, McDougall R. High level penicillin resistant pneumococcus in Australia: Report of an isolate. Comm Dis Intell 1994; 18: 474.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Hanna J, Brookes D, Muscio P, et al. A multiple antibiotic-resistant pneumococcus in Cairns: Case report and investigation. Comm Dis Intell 1995; 19: 261–264.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Gratten M, Torzillo P, Morey F et al. Distribution of capsular types and antibiotic susceptibility of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from aborigines in central Australia. J Clin Microbiol 1996: 34; 338–341.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Tan T, Mason E, Kaplan S. Penicillin-resistant systemic pneumococcal infections in children: A retrospective case-control study. Pediatrics 1993; 92: 761–767.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Arason VA, Kristinsson KG, Sigurdsson JA, et al. Do antimicrobials increase the carriage rate of penicillin resistant pneumococci in children? Cross sectional prevalence study. BMJ 1996: 313; 387–391.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Hansman D, Morris S. Pneumococcal carriage amongst children in Adelaide, South Australia. Epidem Infect 1988; 101: 411–417.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Skull SA, Leach AJ, Currie BJ. Streptococcus pneumoniae carriage and penicillin/ceftriaxone resistance in hospitalised children in Darwin. Aust NZ J Med 1996: 26; 391–395.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Torzillo P, Hanna J, Morey F, et al. Invasive pneumococcal disease in central Australia. Med J Aust 1995; 162: 182–186.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. McDermott RA, Williams WM. Invasive pneumococcal disease in Central Australia [letter]. Med J Aust 1995; 162: 553–554.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Reichler M, Allphin A, Breiman R, et al. The spread of multiply resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae at a Day Care Center in Ohio. J Infect Dis 1992; 166: 1346–1353.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Department of Western Australia, Communicable Diseases Control Program, Perth, Western Australia

    Virginia A. McLaughlin

  2. Master of Applied Epidemiology Program, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

    Virginia A. McLaughlin & Christine L. Roberts

  3. Department of Microbiology, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia

    Thomas V. Riley

  4. Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Western Australian Centre for Pathology and Medical Research, Perth, Western Australia

    Thomas V. Riley

Authors
  1. Virginia A. McLaughlin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Thomas V. Riley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Christine L. Roberts
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

McLaughlin, V.A., Riley, T.V. & Roberts, C.L. Penicillin resistance in laboratory isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae, in Western Australia, 1990–1994. Eur J Epidemiol 14, 611–615 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007446304166

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007446304166

Search

Navigation