Bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia associated with macrolide failure

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2006 Jan;25(1):39-42. doi: 10.1007/s10096-005-0081-z.

Abstract

Despite rising rates of macrolide resistance to Streptococcus pneumoniae, the current guidelines for outpatient treatment of community-acquired pneumonia include a macrolide as initial empiric therapy. There have only been a few previously documented cases of macrolide treatment failure in community-acquired pneumonia and there is controversy as to whether macrolide resistance in S. pneumoniae is clinically important. Reported here are two cases of community-acquired pneumonia caused by S. pneumoniae, one of which was fatal, that failed to respond to clarithromycin.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Bacteremia / diagnosis
  • Bacteremia / drug therapy*
  • Bacteremia / microbiology
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Macrolides / pharmacology
  • Macrolides / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / drug therapy*
  • Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / etiology
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / drug effects*
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / isolation & purification
  • Treatment Failure

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Macrolides