Antimicrobial susceptibility of Streptococcus agalactiae isolated from pregnant women in Misiones, Argentina.

QUIROGA M, PEGELS E, OVIEDO P, LACZESKI M, VERGARA M

Science against microbial pathogens: communicating current research and technological advances.

Formatex Research Center

Lugar: Badajoz; Año: 2011; p. 444 - 447

Streptococcus agalactiae or Group B Streptococcus(GBS) is the leading cause of neonatal infections. The aims of this study were to determine the susceptibility patterns of GBS infection in Misiones, Argentina. To this end, 3125 pregnant women were studied between 2004 and 2010,and 293 GBS strains were identified.A total of 96 GBS strains were randomly selected for in vitro susceptibility testing. No resistance to penicillin, ampicillin, quinupristin-dalfopristin, and vancomycin was found. High-level resistance to gentamicin was not detected in any ofthe isolates.The rate of resistance to erythromycin (11.6%) was higher than that reported previously in Argentina. The identification of resistant strains in this study suggests that these agents should be used with caution in the prophylaxis or treatment of GBS infection. The knowledge of the most prevalent phenotypes in our region is essential to carry out appropriatesurveillance and appropriate procedures for the control and prevention of GBS infection.