The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7240 p359
15 March 2003

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US drug-resistant bacteria on the rise

Drug-resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae are on the rise in the United States, a new study shows.

Researchers analysed trends in the proportions of bacteria at eight locations across the US, looking in particular at strains that were resistant to penicillin and erythromycin. They noticed that while strains resistant to only one of the drugs seem to have levelled off in past years, strains resistant to both drugs are increasing. By July 2004, the researchers predict that 41 per cent of the bacterial strains at these locations will be resistant to both antibiotics.

The study is due to be published in the April issue of Nature Medicine but can be viewed as an advance online publication.