The description of penicillin, macrolide and lincosamide resistance among beta-haemolytic streptococci (BHS) isolates are hardly made in West Africa. However, the availability of such information is very important as it helps to detect and track antibiotic resistance during emergencies. To test the resistibility of these antibiotics, samples were collected from 217 people who attended clinic at the MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM and cultured with BHS. Out of the cultured samples, 186 were revived and tested using disc diffusion and E-test methods.
Out of the 186 samples tested, none was resistance to penicillin and only 14 were resistant to erythromycin. It was noted that most of the isolates were from would infections. It was noted that macrolide and lincosamide resistance is relatively low in The Gambia however, Beta-haemolytic streptococci are most associated with infections.
This piece was first publish on 23rd February 2017
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