Streptococcus pneumoniae, Brooklyn, New York
To examine the resistance rates and epidemiology of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Brooklyn, New York, isolates were collected during two boroughwide surveillance periods in 1997 and 1999. Of 138 isolates, 67% were susceptible to penicillin and 34% to ciprofloxacin. Susceptibility rates to ciprofloxacin decreased dramatically from 1997 to 1999 (47% to 16%, p=0.0003). Five isolates (3.6%) were resistant to levofloxacin. Western Brooklyn had lower rates of susceptibility to penicillin compared with eastern neighborhoods. More isolates in the eastern neighborhoods belonged to the Spanish/French 9/14 clone, and isolates in the western neighborhoods tended to belong to the Spanish/USA 23F clone. Residents of the western neighborhoods were more likely to be white and elderly and less likely to be receiving Medicaid or public assistance, characteristics associated with increased health-care and antibiotic use. Brooklyn residents appear to be at high risk for fluoroquinolone-resistant S. pneumoniae. Our results underscore the need for vigilant regional surveillance.
Streptococcus pneumoniae with reduced susceptibility to penicillin has become common in many areas, including Europe and North America. In 1995, 20% of bloodstream isolates in New York City were nonsusceptible to penicillin, as were 29% from the northeast United States from 1996 to 1997. In a national survey from 1995 to 1998 involving >4,000 isolates, 24% were resistant to penicillin. The Southeast has recorded the highest resistance rates (approximately one third of isolates). Pneumococcal isolates from nonsterile sites and from children tend to be more resistant. In addition, recent receipt of antibiotics has been consistently recognized as a risk factor for having resistant S. pneumoniae. Many isolates resistant to penicillin are also resistant to other antimicrobial drugs, and therapeutic options have become quite limited. In this report, we describe the resistance rates and epidemiology of S. pneumoniae in the borough of Brooklyn, New York.
To examine the resistance rates and epidemiology of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Brooklyn, New York, isolates were collected during two boroughwide surveillance periods in 1997 and 1999. Of 138 isolates, 67% were susceptible to penicillin and 34% to ciprofloxacin. Susceptibility rates to ciprofloxacin decreased dramatically from 1997 to 1999 (47% to 16%, p=0.0003). Five isolates (3.6%) were resistant to levofloxacin. Western Brooklyn had lower rates of susceptibility to penicillin compared with eastern neighborhoods. More isolates in the eastern neighborhoods belonged to the Spanish/French 9/14 clone, and isolates in the western neighborhoods tended to belong to the Spanish/USA 23F clone. Residents of the western neighborhoods were more likely to be white and elderly and less likely to be receiving Medicaid or public assistance, characteristics associated with increased health-care and antibiotic use. Brooklyn residents appear to be at high risk for fluoroquinolone-resistant S. pneumoniae. Our results underscore the need for vigilant regional surveillance.
Streptococcus pneumoniae with reduced susceptibility to penicillin has become common in many areas, including Europe and North America. In 1995, 20% of bloodstream isolates in New York City were nonsusceptible to penicillin, as were 29% from the northeast United States from 1996 to 1997. In a national survey from 1995 to 1998 involving >4,000 isolates, 24% were resistant to penicillin. The Southeast has recorded the highest resistance rates (approximately one third of isolates). Pneumococcal isolates from nonsterile sites and from children tend to be more resistant. In addition, recent receipt of antibiotics has been consistently recognized as a risk factor for having resistant S. pneumoniae. Many isolates resistant to penicillin are also resistant to other antimicrobial drugs, and therapeutic options have become quite limited. In this report, we describe the resistance rates and epidemiology of S. pneumoniae in the borough of Brooklyn, New York.
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