Streptococcus pneumoniae antibiotic sensitivity

G Zhao, WK Yeh, RH Carnahan, J Flowkowitsch, TI Meier, WE Alborn, GW Becker, SR Jaskunas. Biochemical characterization of penicillin-resistant and -sensitive penicillin-binding protein 2x transpeptidase activities of Streptococcus pneumoniae and mechanistic implications in bacterial resistance to [3-lactam antibiotics. J Bacteriol 179 4901-4908, 1997. 

Studies of community-acquired pneumonia in the UK indicate that no organism is isolated in over 30% of cases (British Thoracic Society, 200f). Viruses are isolated in approximately f 3% of patients. Of the bacterial pathogens associated with community-acquired pneumonia, Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most important (isolated in almost 40% of cases), typically sensitive to benzylpeni-cillin and cephalosporin antibiotics. 

Agneu ( neu ) Moania complains to his physician of a fever and cough. His cough produces thick yellow-brown sputum. A stain of his sputum shows many Gram-positive, bullet-shaped diplococci. A sputum culture confirms that he has pneumonia, a respiratory infection caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is sensitive to penicillin, erythromycin, tetracycline, and other antibiotics. Because of a history of penicillin allergy, he is started on oral erythromycin therapy. 

Neu Moania returned to his physician s office after 1 week of erythromycin therapy (see Chapter 12). The sputum sample from his previous visit had been cultured. The results confirmed that his respiratory infection was caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and that the organism was sensitive to penicillin, macrolides (e.g., erythromycin, clarithromycin), tetracycline, and other antibiotics. 

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