Nutritionally variant streptococcal infections at a University Hospital in Taiwan: disease emergence and high prevalence of beta-lactam and macrolide resistance

Clin Infect Dis. 2004 Feb 1;38(3):452-5. doi: 10.1086/381098. Epub 2004 Jan 9.

Abstract

From January 1993 to December 2002, 28 patients with nutritionally variant streptococci (NVS) infections were treated at a university hospital in Taiwan. Twelve (43%) of these patients had various underlying malignancies, and 7 (25%) had underlying valvular heart diseases. Nine patients (32%) had infective endocarditis, and 9 (32%) had primary bacteremia. The deaths of 7 patients (25%) were directly related to NVS infection. Among the 28 isolates recovered from these patients, 50% were not susceptible to penicillin, 33% were not susceptible to cefotaxime, and 93% were not susceptible to azithromycin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Azithromycin / pharmacology
  • Cefotaxime / pharmacology
  • Child
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
  • Female
  • Hospitals, University
  • Humans
  • Macrolides / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Middle Aged
  • Streptococcal Infections / drug therapy
  • Streptococcal Infections / microbiology*
  • Streptococcus / drug effects*
  • Taiwan
  • beta-Lactam Resistance*

Substances

  • Macrolides
  • Azithromycin
  • Cefotaxime