Tracking Susceptibility and Reducing Resistance - Fluoroquinolones at the Forefront in the Fight Against Bacterial Pathogens

29 March, 2018

Question 18

How do the results from your surveillance study impact on treatment strategies aimed at dealing with infections caused by S. pneumoniae?

Firstly, when the issue of PRSP became a clinical concern we had to change prescribing practices to incorporate increased dosing regimens as well as moving from penicillin to cephalosporin and/ or fluoroquinolones. Now, with the increase in macrolide resistant pneumococci physicians need to change their use of macrolides. In contrast the fluoroquinolones such as levofloxacin have maintained their efficacy against these resistant pathogens making them a good therapeutic choice when empirically treating patients with RTI. In addition, the ketolides also continue to show good in vitro activity against erythromycin-resistant pneumococcal isolates, making them also a potential alternative to treat infections caused by these resistant pathogens when other options are not possible.