Susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated in Italy to penicillin and ten other antibiotics.

The susceptibility of 312 Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated during 1993 in Italy has been studied. Overall resistance to penicillin, erythromycin and co-trimoxazole was 5.5, 6 and 18% respectively. The penicillin resistant isolates (nine displaying low- and eight high-level resistance) were further tested against cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, cefepime, cefodizime, ceftazidime, imipenem, meropenem and rifampicin. The low-level penicillin resistant strains were inhibited by all these drugs. Among the eight high-level penicillin resistant pneumococci, four were resistant to one or more cephalosporins. Imipenem and rifampicin remained effective against all isolates. In comparison with other European Mediterranean countries, penicillin resistance is a minor threat at present in Italy.