Penicillin-insensitive pneumococci. Case report and review
G. A. Ahronheim, B. Reich and M. I. Marks
Infections due to pneumococci with decreased susceptibility (or resistance)
to penicillin have been infrequently recognized. Our experience and that of
others suggest that (1) penicillin susceptibility testing of significant
pneumococcal isolates should become routine; (2) penicillin may not be
adequate therapy for CNS infections due to pneumococci whose penicillin
minimal inhibitory concentration is greater than 0.1 microgram/ml; and (3)
long-term penicillin "prophylaxis" may be inappropriate in the
splenectomized patient in areas where these organisms are prevalent.
