Drug treatment of pneumococcal pneumonia in the elderly.

Streptococcus pneumoniae has been recognised as a major cause of pneumonia since the time of Sir William Osler. Drug-resistant S. pneumoniae (DRSP), which have gradually become resistant to penicillins as well as more recently developed macrolides and fluoroquinolones, have emerged as a consequence of indiscriminate use of antibacterials coupled with the ability of the pneumococcus to adapt to a changing antibacterial milieu.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis: the treatment of active disease.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) remains a worldwide health care challenge despite the relatively recent evolution of effective antituberculous medications and combination drug therapy. In many parts of the world, the continued high prevalence of MTB disease is caused in part by the lack of availability of medications and the growing problem of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). In the United States, however, errors in treatment constitute a significant portion of treatment failures and relapses.