The Increasing Incidence of Ampicillin-Resistant Haemophilus influenzae

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Abstract
Middle ear exudate was obtained by myringotomy or aspiration from 625 suburban children, aged 1 month to 12 years, who had acute otitis media; bacterial pathogens were isolated from 71%.Haemophilusspecies were isolated from 212 (29%), andStreptococcus pneumoniaefrom 205 (28%). From 1975 to August 1977, the number ofHaemophilusisolates found to be resistant to ampicillin has appreciably increased. Currently, 8% of all cases of acute otitis media in the Washington, DC, area are due toH influenzaeresistant to ampicillin. Thirty-one of 35 patients with resistantH influenzaeotitis were treated with an erythromycin/sulfisoxazole combination with an impressive clinical response. Twenty-six of these 31 cases had failed to haveH influenzaeeradicated by an average of ten days of oral ampicillin in recommended doses. (JAMA239:320-323, 1978)