• ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE IN STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE: A Review

Abstract

Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important pathogen in many community-acquired respiratory infections and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In past decade Pneumococci were highly susceptible to penicillin, but now days it become resistant and multidrug-resistant strains. Resistant strains spread rapidly in community and hospital settings. Results of recent surveillance studies in the United States showed the prevalence of penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae was much more. A high prevalence of resistance to other antimicrobial classes is found among penicillin-resistant strains. Pneumococcal infections should be preventing through pneumococcal vaccine. The misuse of antibiotic can enhance the drug resistance pattern; antibiotics should not be prescribed to patients before the sensitivity report has come, because in many cases the person comes with viral infection.