Action Plan for Drug-Resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae
Author Information
Author(s): Martin S. Cetron, Daniel B. Jernigan, Robert F. Breiman, DRSP Working Group
Primary Institution: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence and impact of drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (DRSP) infections?
Conclusion
A comprehensive plan has been developed to address the growing problem of drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae through surveillance and prevention strategies.
Supporting Evidence
- Streptococcus pneumoniae causes over seven million cases of otitis media annually.
- High-level resistance to penicillin increased from 0.02% to 1.3% between 1979 and 1992.
- At least 30% of isolates in some communities are nonsusceptible to penicillin.
- An existing vaccine can prevent many pneumococcal infections but is underutilized.
- Educational campaigns are being developed to raise awareness about antimicrobial use.
Takeaway
Doctors are trying to figure out how to deal with a type of bacteria that is becoming harder to treat because it doesn't respond to common medicines anymore.
Methodology
The working group is developing an electronic surveillance system to monitor drug-resistant strains and their prevalence.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in data collection due to reliance on voluntary reporting from laboratories.
Limitations
The prevalence of pneumococcal resistance is not known for most areas in the U.S. since DRSP infection is not reportable.
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