Summary

The antimicrobial susceptibility of all 490 viable invasive isolates of S. pneumoniae referred to ESR in 2002 was tested. 16.9% (83) were categorised as penicillin nonsusceptible (MIC ≥0.12 mg/L): 3.5% (17) as resistant (MIC ≥2 mg/L) and 13.5% (66) as intermediate (MIC 0.12-1 mg/L). The prevalence of penicillin resistance has decreased in each of the last four years since 1998 (Figure 1). While there was also a decline in penicillin nonsusceptibility between 1999 and 2001, the prevalence increased again in 2002.