Summary

The antimicrobial susceptibility of all 523 viable invasive isolates of S. pneumoniae referred to ESR in 2003 was tested. 16.4% (86) were categorised as penicillin nonsusceptible (MIC ≥0.12 mg/L): 7.5% (39) as resistant (MIC ≥2 mg/L) and 9.0% (47) as intermediate (MIC 0.12-1 mg/L). Penicillin resistance increased in 2003, following four successive years of declining resistance since 1998 (Figure 1). There has not been any significant change in penicillin nonsusceptibility since 1998.