The Effect of Changes in the Consumption of Macrolide Antibiotics on Erythromycin Resistance in Group A Streptococci in Finland

Abstract

In the early 1990s there was an increase in erythromycin resistance among group A streptococci in Finland. In response, policies regarding outpatient antibiotic therapy were changed, and nationwide recommendations were issued that called for reductions in the use of macrolide antibiotics for respiratory and skin infections in outpatients. We studied the effect of this policy on the pattern of erythromycin resistance throughout Finland.