Management of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae

Newer drugs other than antibiotics must be used to treat antibiotic-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae infections. Resistance patterns specific to a geographic area may need to be considered in addition to treatment agents. Determining the susceptibility of pneumococcal infections to penicillin and other antimicrobial agents is important. The clinician and laboratory should communicate with each other to provide the best treatment possible. Effects of penicillin resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae and the organism's susceptibility to other antibiotics are discussed. Other streptococcal infections that may be penicillin-resistant are meningitis, sepsis, pneumonia and otitis media. Chloramphenicol, cephalosporin and other antimicrobials, beta-lactam antibiotics, and non-beta-lactam antibiotics are possible alternatives to penicillin.