To evaluate the comparative activity of seven oral antimicrobial agents against 100 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae (S pneumoniae) Methods Total 100 strains of S pneumoniae were collected from general hospitals in Beijing from June 1996 to June 1997 E test method was used to detect the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the following seven drugs against S pneumoniae : penicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanate, cefaclor, cefuroxime, ceftriaxone, azithromycin and ofloxacin The breakpoint of susceptibility categories was defined according to NCCLS Results 74% of isolates were susceptible (S, MIC 0 06?mg/L) to penicillin, and 5% were penicillin resistant (R, MIC 2?mg/L). The intermediately resistant (I, MIC 0 1-1?mg/L) rate to penicillin was 21% The total rates of R or I were 26% for penicillin, 6% for both amoxicillin/clavulanate and ceftriaxone, 9% for cefuroxime, 66% and 68% for azithromycin and ofloxacin respectively Overall 94%, 94% and 91% of the pneumococcal isolates were susceptible to amoxicillin/clavulanate, ceftriaxone and cefuroxime respectively S pneumoniae was highly resistant to azithromycin tested as a representative of macrolides (MIC 50 and MIC 90 both >256?mg/L, R rate 66%), and had a highly intermediately resistant rate to ofloxacin (I rate 62%) Conclusions Our data suggest that in vitro activity of oral amoxicillin/clavulanate was as good as ceftriaxone and cefuroxime It can be considered as an alternative compound in the treatment of community acquired pneumoniae and other respiratory tract infections caused by multiresistant S pneumoniae To evaluate the comparative activity of seven oral antimicrobial agents against 100 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae (S pneumoniae) Methods Total 100 strains of S pneumoniae were collected from general hospitals in Beijing from June 1996 to June 1997 E test method was used to detect the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ​​of the following seven drugs against S pneumoniae: penicillin, amoxicillin / clavulanate, cefaclor, cefuroxime, ceftriaxone, azithromycin and ofloxacin The breakpoint of susceptibility categories was defined according to NCCLS Results 74% of isolates were susceptible (S, MIC The intermediately resistant (I, MIC 0 1-1? Mg / L) rate to penicillin was 21% The amount of penicillin was 21% total rates of R or I were 26% for penicillin, 6% for both amoxicillin / clavulanate and ceftriaxone, 9% for cefuroxime, 66% and 68% for azithromycin and ofloxacin respectively 94% nd 91% of the pneumococcal isolates were susceptible to amoxicillin / clavulanate, ceftriaxone and cefuroxime respectively S pneumoniae was highly resistant to azithromycin tested as a representative of macrolides (MIC 50 and MIC 90 both> 256? mg / L, R rate 66%) , and had a highly intermediately resistant rate to ofloxacin (I rate 62%) Conclusions Our data suggest that in vitro activity of oral amoxicillin / clavulanate was as good as ceftriaxone and cefuroxime It can be considered as an alternative compound in the treatment of community acquired pneumoniae and other respiratory tract infections caused by multiresistant S pneumoniae