Emergence of Rifampin-Resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae as a Result of Antimicrobial Therapy for Penicillin-Resistant Strains

• Published in: Clinical infectious diseases Vol. 33; no. 8; pp. e93 - e96
• Main Authors: van Tilburg, Peter M. B., Bogaert, Debby, Sluijter, Marcel, Jansz, Arjan R., de Groot, Ronald, Hermans, Peter W. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The University of Chicago Press 15.10.2001
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Cross Infection - drug therapy; Cross Infection - epidemiology; Cross Infection - microbiology; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases - chemistry; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases - genetics; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Humans; Molecular Sequence Data; Penicillin Resistance; Pneumococcal Infections - drug therapy; Pneumococcal Infections - epidemiology; Pneumococcal Infections - microbiology; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - complications; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - epidemiology; Rifampin - pharmacology; Rifampin - therapeutic use; Streptococcus pneumoniae - drug effects; Streptococcus pneumoniae - genetics
• ISSN: 1058-4838; 1537-6591
• DOI: 10.1086/323021

A multidrug-resistant strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated in The Netherlands during a nosocomial outbreak among 36 patients who mainly had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. After the commencement of barrier nursing and short-term ceftriaxone-rifampin eradication therapy, the epidemic ceased. However, eradication therapy failed in 3 patients, and follow-up investigation of these patients showed the emergence of rifampin-resistant isolates.