Variation in erythromycin and clindamycin resistance patterns between New Zealand and Australian group B streptococcus isolates

Abstract

Background: Intrapartum chemoprophylaxis for group B streptococcus (GBS) carriers reduces the risk of early-onset neonatal GBS infection. For women with β-lactam allergy, either erythromycin or clindamycin are administered. Recent reports worldwide suggest that GBS resistance to these antibiotics is increasing. Aims: To compare erythromycin and clindamycin resistance phenotypes in invasive neonatal GBS isolates across New Zealand and Australia over the past two decades and to determine whether regional variation in resistance patterns exist. Method: Invasive neonatal GBS isolates were collected from laboratories across New Zealand (n = 107) and Australia (n = 74) over two time periods (1992-..