Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of the Most Important Respiratory Pathogens

The present study focuses on antimicrobial resistance among the most important respiratory pathogens. The study population were children with respiratory tract infections (RTIs), treated in ambulatory and hospital settings at the Institute for respiratory diseases in children –Skopje, in the period from 01.04.2016 to 30.09.2016. Standard microbiological procedures were used for isolation and identification of bacteria. Disc diffusion test was used for antibiotic susceptibility testing. Oxacillin-resistant pneumococcal isolates were subjected to MIC determination by gradient E-test. Of all respiratory pathogens, Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most frequently isolated with 35% (362/1027). Ampicillin nonsusceptibility rate (MIC>2mg/l) was 28.2%. Macrolide-resistant were 46.7%, with cMLSb as dominant phenotype (80.15%). The rate of MRSA was 34.9% (73/209) and gentamycin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus in 90.7% was connected with MRSA. 26.5% were macrolide-resistant with iMLSb as dominant phenotype. Ampicillin resistance rates among Moraxella catarrhalis and Haemophilus influenzae were 100% and 34.9%, respectively. There was no resistance to β-lactams or to macrolides among Streptococcus β haemolyticus. Tracing bacterial resistance profiles plays a critical role in preparing guidelines for appropriate antimicrobial treatment.