Volume 4, Number 2—June 1998
Dispatch
Emergence of the M Phenotype of Erythromycin-Resistant Pneumococci in South Africa
Table 1
Prevalence of South African erythromycin-resistant pneumococcal isolates, 1987–1996a
| Years | Total isolatesb | No. of E-R strains (%)c | No. of M strains (% of E-R strains) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987-1991 | 5,115 | 128 (2.5) | 1 (0.8) |
| 1992-1996 | 4,753 | 142 (3.0) | 28 (19.7) |
| Total | 9,868 | 270 (2.7) | 29 (10.7) |
aOf 9,868 blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) isolates received by the SAIMR from 1987 to 1996, 270 were fully resistant to erythromycin. While the number of erythromycin-resistant blood and CSF isolates received increased from 1987 to 1991 compared with 1992 to 1996 (2.5% to 3.0%), the increase was not significant. There was no significant relationship between erythromycin resistance and the M phenotype within any given province throughout the 10 years.
bBlood and cerebrospinal fluid isolates.
cE-R= erythromycin-resistant.
Page created: December 15, 2010
Page updated: December 15, 2010
Page reviewed: December 15, 2010
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.