Summary

The antimicrobial susceptibility of all 545 viable invasive isolates of S. pneumoniae referred to ESR in 2004 was tested. 18.2% (99) were categorised as penicillin nonsusceptible (MIC ≥0.12 mg/L): 10.1% (55) as resistant (MIC ≥2 mg/L) and 8.1% (44) as intermediate (MIC 0.12-1 mg/L). Penicillin resistance increased significantly in 2003 and 2004, following four successive years of declining resistance between 1999 and 2002 (Figure 1).