Streptococcus pneumoniae in children in Spain: 1990-1999

• Published in: Acta Paediatrica Vol. 89; no. s435; pp. 44 - 50
• Main Authors: Fenoll, A, Jado, I, Vicioso, D, Berrón, S, Yuste, JE, Casal, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2000
• Subjects: Adolescent; Age Distribution; Antibiotic resistance; Child; Child, Preschool; children; Erythromycin - pharmacology; Humans; Infant; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Otitis Media - epidemiology; Otitis Media - microbiology; Penicillin Resistance; Pneumococcal Infections - epidemiology; pneumococcal serotypes; Prevalence; Serotyping; Spain - epidemiology; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Streptococcus pneumoniae - classification; Streptococcus pneumoniae - drug effects; Streptococcus pneumoniae - isolation & purification; Spain
• ISSN: 0803-5253; 0803-5326; 1651-2227
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2000.tb00783.x

This study analyses the serogroups/types (SGTs) and resistance to penicillin and erythromycin of 3921 strains isolated from 1990 to 1999 in children aged 0–14 y in Spanish hospitals of all the autonomous communities. Based on the age of the children, strains have been divided into five groups: 0–6 mo, <6–1 y, <1–2y, <2–5 y and 5 y. While only eight SGTs were responsible for 80% of the infections in children from 6 mo to 2 y of age, this number increased to 11 and 16 for the groups 2–5 y and <5–14 y, respectively. SGTs 6, 14 and 19 were prevalent in blood and otic exudates. SGTs 1, 4, 5, 12 and 18 were more frequent in invasive disease but serotype 3 was clearly associated with otitis. Serotypes 1 and 5 were quite significant in children of over 2 y of age, and this should be taken into account in future vaccine formulations. Conclusion: Although high, the rate of penicillin resistance in the paediatric population has remained stable in recent years. Conversely, erythromycin resistance is still increasing in our country. Coverage by the 7‐valent vaccine was 78 and 81% for blood and otic isolates, respectively. These coverage levels would be increased by 9% and 3% if 9‐valent (plus 1 + 5 serotypes) were used and by an additional 2.6% and 7.6% using the 11‐valent (plus 3 + 7) formulation.