Abstract
The frequency of detecting ampicillin (ABPC)-resistant Haemophilus influenzae strains increased significantly from 45% in 2002-2003 to 72% in 2006-2007. In the period between 2006 and 2007, the MIC90 value of amoxicillin against ABPC-resistant H. influenzae strains was over 4 μg/ml, thus revealing a high level of resistance. The number of inpatient cases rose markedly from 4 subjects in 2002 to 2003 to 10 cases in 2006 to 2007, and ABPC-resistant H. influenzae strains were detected in 80% of all inpatient cases. Prior to 2007, the standard treatment was penicillin antimicrobials, but since 2008, patients with severe H. influenzae infections have been treated with cefditoren pivoxil (600 mg/day), which shows an antimicrobial activity against ABPC-resistant H. influenzae. As a result, no such inpatient cases were observed from 2008 to 2009.
