What
is DRSP?
DRSP
stands for drug resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae.
It is a bacterium that has developed a resistance to at
least one drug that is commonly used for pneumococcal infections.
The antibiotic that DRSP is most commonly resistant to is
penicillin, but DRSP may also be resistant to other antibiotics
as well, including erythromycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole,
vancomycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and ofloxacin.
What
is the reservoir for DRSP?
DRSP
can affect people in two different ways--colonization or
infection. When a person carries DRSP as part of their body's
normally present bacteria (also known as their normal flora),
the person is said to be colonized. If
a person has an infection that is caused by DRSP, the person
is said to be infected.
S.
pneumoniae infections are among the leading causes
worldwide of illness and death for young children, persons
with underlying debilitating medical conditions, and the
elderly. Each year in the United States, pneumococcal disease
is estimated to account for 3,000 cases of meningitis (infection
of the lining of the brain and spinal cord), 50,000 cases
of bacteremia (infection of the blood), and 7,000,000 cases
of otitis media (infection of the middle ear).
How
does DRSP spread from person-to-person?
The
most common ways DRSP is spread are through large respiratory
droplets (i.e., coughing or sneezing) or direct contact
from person-to-person. People who carry S. pneumoniae
as part of their normal flora may spread the infection to
others without ever feeling ill.
How
can you stop DRSP spread from person-to-person?
The
same methods that would prevent the spread of pneumococcal
infections are effective in preventing the spread of DRSP.
These include covering the mouth and nose while sneezing
or coughing, regular handwashing and the detection and treatment
of persons who carry S. pneumoniae bacteria as
part of their normal flora.
There
is a vaccine available that protects against the 23 most
common serotypes of S. pneumoniae. The Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that
the vaccine be administered to persons 2 years of age or
older who have certain underlying medical conditions associated
with increased risk for pneumococcal disease and its complications,
and to all persons greater than or equal to 65 years
of age.
Is
DRSP more of a concern than other infections?
Yes
and no. DRSP infections are no more virulent than other
pneumococcal infections. However, pneumococcal infections
can be extremely serious and all infections are of
concern to health care workers and patients. DRSP is of
particular importance because infections caused by DRSP
may be very difficult to treat with the antibiotics that
are currently available.
How
can you prevent the spread of DRSP?
The
number of all pneumococcal infections would be likely to
decrease if more people were vaccinated against the disease.
Talk with your personal doctor to find out if you could
benefit from vaccination against pneumococcal disease.
The
problem of drug resistance would be likely to decrease if
antibiotics were used more carefully. If you are prescribed
an antibiotic for a pneumococcal infection (or any other
infection), be sure and take the entire prescription as
directed. (If the medicine is not agreeing with you, contact
your health care provider and they may be able to prescribe
another antibiotic.) NEVER give an antibiotic to anyone
who it was not prescribed for and never save 'leftover'
antibiotic for future use. See the Utah Department of Health's
fact sheet on Antibiotics for further information about
proper antibiotic use.
Where
can I get more information?
- Your
personal doctor.
- Your
local health department listed in your telephone directory.
- The
Utah Department of Health, Office of Epidemiology (801)
538-6191 or the Immunization Program (801) 538-9450.
UTAH
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
OFFICE OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
August 2001
This
fact sheet was based on the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention's Defining the Public Health Impact of Drug-Resistant
Streptococcus pneumoniae: Report of a Working Group.
MMWR 1996; 45 (No. RR-1).
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