Table 1 World Health Organization-reported beta-lactam resistance rates (percentage) in common bacterial pathogens that can cause pneumonia (most recent data as reported 2013)

Staphylococcus aureus

(beta-lactam resistant; i.e., MRSA)

12–80

21–90

10–53

0.3–60

10–26

4–84

Data on MRSA proportions among S. aureus were obtained from 44 % of member states; most reported MRSA proportions exceed 20 % in all WHO regions and even exceed 80 % in some reports.

Streptococcus pneumoniae

(penicillin-resistant)

3–16

0–48

13–34

0–61

47–48

17–64

Data were obtained from only 35 % of member states; non-susceptibility to penicillin has been detected in all WHO regions.

Escherichia coli

(resistant to third-generation cephalosporins)

2–70

0–48

22–63

3–82

16–68

0–77

Data on E. coli resistance to third-generation cephalosporins were obtained from 44 % of member states; reports consistently disclosed high resistance rates to the last-generation drugs commonly used to treat serious infections.

Klebsiella pneumoniae

(resistant to third-generation cephalosporins)

8–77

4–71

22–50

2–82

34–81

1–72

The majority of sources reported more than 30 % resistance in K. pneumoniae to third-generation cephalosporins in the sampled populations; resistance proportions exceeding 50 % were reported from all WHO regions.

Klebsiella pneumoniae

(resistant to carbapenems)

0–4

0–11

0–54

0–68

0–8

0–8

Rates of carbapenem resistance exceeding 50 % have been reported in some patient groups, for which few, if any, alternative treatment options are available.