Evaluation of Group A Beta Hemolytic Streptococci Macrolide Resistance in Turkey: Pilot Study Results

Objective: In this study, it is aimed to attain a general opinion about macrolide resistance and its prevalance in group A beta hemolytic Streptococci all over the country by studying isolates of group A beta hemolytic Streptoccocci causing tonsillopharyngitis from 8 centers in Turkey. In this study, the first results of macrolide resistance in a continuing study are reported.Material and Methods: From the first centers, isolates of group A beta hemolytic Streptococci from patients 5-15 years of age, throat cultures were carried via transport medium (blood agar-bacitracin) to Hacettepe University Medical Faculty Hospital and with disc diffusion technique erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycine and clindamycin resistance was studied.Results: From Hacettepe University Hospital 75 isolates, from Ankara University Hospital18 isolates, from Ankara Hematology andOncology Hospital 31 isolates, from Sel uk University Hospital 51 isolates, from Süleyman Demirel University Hospital 69 isolates, from Mustafa Kemal University Hospital 14 isolates, from Bak rk y Sadi Konuk Research Hospital 9 isolates and from Ankara Akay Hospital 20 isolates were obtained which yielded 287 group A beta hemolytic Streptococci. Intermediate erythromycin resistance of the strains was 2%, intermediate clindamycin resistance of the strains was 1.1%, intermediate azithromycin resistance of the strains was 1.8% and intermediate clarihtromycin resistance of the strains was 1.8%. Erythromycin resistance of group A beta hemolytic Streptococci was 1.3%, azithromycin resistance of group a beta hemolytic Streptococci was 2.8%, clarithromycin resistance of group A beta hemolytic Streptococci was 1.3%. Conclusion: In this study the anxiety that macrolide resistance of group A beta hemolytic Streptococci in our country is high should not be a serious problem. However macrolide resistance should be followed up intermittently with national and regional studies. Our study is continuing with the isolates from 20 centers and this study is presented to demonstrate pilot findings.