Prevalence of penicillin-nonsusceptible pneumococcal bacteremia in a Staten Island community hospital

Although the first reports of infection due to penicillin-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae in the United States were in children, these strains have circulated widely in recent years, with the prevalence increasing dramatically among the elderly. Regional surveillance of pneumococcal susceptibility profiles may assist clinicians in management decisions, increase awareness of this microbial threat, and target potential areas of intervention. As part of ongoing surveillance, we surveyed single-patient pneumococcal blood isolates in our 440-bed Staten Island community teaching hospital from June 1, 1996, through May 31, 1998. Overall, of 47 single-patient isolates, 16 (35%) were penicillin nonsusceptible. Of 35 isolates from adults, 15 (44%) were nonsusceptible, compared with 1 of 12 (8%) from children. Seven of the nonsusceptible isolates (44%) were from persons > or = 65 years old and represented 47% of the isolates from this age group. Community-acquired penicillin-nonsusceptible pneumococcal bacteremia is not simply a pediatric problem, but also a threat to the elderly.