Results from the Survey of Antibiotic Resistance (SOAR) 2014-16 in Ukraine and the Slovak Republic.

OBJECTIVES: To determine antibiotic susceptibility in isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae collected in 2014-16 from Ukraine and the Slovak Republic.

METHODS: MICs were determined by CLSI broth microdilution and susceptibility was assessed using CLSI, EUCAST and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) breakpoints.

RESULTS: S. pneumoniae isolates collected in Ukraine (n = 100) showed susceptibility rates ≥97% for amoxicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, penicillin [intravenous (iv) non-meningitis] and fluoroquinolones, between 83% and 86% for oral penicillin, macrolides and cefaclor, and 75% for trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Susceptibility was substantially lower in the Slovak Republic (n = 95). All isolates were susceptible to the fluoroquinolones, but susceptibility to penicillin, amoxicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, cefuroxime and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole varied between 61% and 64%, with only 44% of isolates susceptible to the macrolides. Susceptibility of H. influenzae was more homogeneous, with susceptibility to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ceftriaxone, cefuroxime, azithromycin and the fluoroquinolones seen in >90% of isolates by CLSI criteria in both countries. Much greater variability was seen across breakpoints, especially for azithromycin, cefaclor and cefuroxime. The β-lactamase rate was 5.1% (5/98) in the Slovak Republic and 7.3% (7/96) in Ukraine, but the Slovak Republic also had a relatively high rate of β-lactamase-negative-ampicillin-resistant (BLNAR) isolates (7.1%; 7/98).

CONCLUSIONS: The variability found across these two neighbouring countries illustrates the need to monitor and publish national and local resistance patterns. This information is not only critical for effective empirical therapy but can also be used to help shape and support antimicrobial stewardship efforts in order to limit antibiotic resistance.