SURVEILLANCE OF ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE IN STRAINS OF HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE FROM RESPIRATORY TRACT IN SLOVENIA IN 2002

Background. Haemophilus influenzae is quite often a cause of respiratory tract infections. The authors present the results of surveillance of antimicrobial resistance of this bacteria in Slovenia. Antibiotic sensitivity rates in the individual region are necessary for the estimation of the situation, for the empirical therapy guidelines and for planning the actions to limit the spread of resistance. Methods. In 2002 the results of antibiotic resistance testing of H. influenzae, isolated from respiratory tract were surveyed in eight regions of Slovenia. In the survey seven microbiological laboratories of Public Health Institutes and the laboratory of The National Institute of Public Health collaborated. 680 strains of H. influenzae isolated from either out-patients or in patients from regional hospitals were analysed. Susceptibility to antibiotics was determined using the disk-diffusion method. Results and conclusions. All strains, which were tested with amoxicillin with clavulanic acid, azitromycin, cefuroxime, cefotaxime, levofloksacin and moxifloxacin were susceptible to these agents. Ampicillin (amoxicillin) resistance that is caused by beta lactamase enzyme, was found in all regions. The rate of beta lactamase positive strains was 8.4% (from 1.9% to 14.8%). Resistance rate to co-trimoxazole was 13.2% (from 9.3% to 21.2%), to tetracycline 1.0% (0 to 3.0%) and to cefaclor there were only three strains resistant (0.4%). The rate of resistance is different among regions and among age groups inside regions. In many regions the number of isolated strains was very low, so reliability of the surveillance results is questionable in these regions.