BETA-LACTAM SUSCEPTIBILITY OF STREPTOCOCCUS-PNEUMONIAE SURVEY IN 13 FRENCH BRITANNY HOSPITALS (1991-1992)

Evolution in the decrease of beta-lactam susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae is surveyed in France by the National Reference Center for Pneumococci (NRCP). In a wide area, we compared the data collected from 13 hospitals to the data of the NRCP, as well as the data from each hospital to all others. The rate of penicillin resistance in this area was similar to NRCP data (13 %). The study showed a difference in penicillin susceptibility between invasive (5,5 %) and noninvasive strains (18,6 %). A relationship between penicillin resistance and pediatric isolates (PRP rate : 33 %) was observed. There was a marked heterogeneity in the results of each hospital, and bias such as the origin of isolates, recruitment, and difference in the methods for resistance detection must be taken in account. These results should prompt to perform local epidemiological surveys and propose appropriate measures in order to control the ongoing beta-lactam resistance in S. pneumoniae.