Macrolide resistance among Streptococcus agalactiae during COVID-19 public health emergency in Brazil.

During COVID-19 public health emergence, azithromycin was excessively used in Brazil, as part of a controversial "early treatment", recommended by former national health authorities. Excessive usage of macrolides may increase resistance rates among beta-hemolytic streptococci. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the occurrence of resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin among Streptococcus agalactiae recovered from February 2020 to May 2023.