Related Experiment Videos
Nasopharyngeal colonization with penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in Turkish children
1Ankara University Medical School, Department of Paediatrics, Turkey. erginciftci@doctor.com
Insights
Penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae is a growing concern in children, with high carriage rates in sick children. New strategies are needed to combat the spread of these resistant bacteria.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of childhood infections.
- Penicillin is the preferred treatment, but resistance is increasing globally.
- This study investigates penicillin resistance in S. pneumoniae in Turkish children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae in sick and healthy children.
- To analyze resistance rates to other antibiotics.
- To inform strategies for controlling drug-resistant S. pneumoniae.
Main Methods:
- Agar dilution method used to test penicillin susceptibility.
- S. pneumoniae isolates from nasopharyngeal swabs of 150 sick and 150 healthy children.
- Comparison of carriage rates and resistance between groups.
Main Results:
- S. pneumoniae carriage rate was higher in sick children (43.3%) than controls (30.0%).
- Overall penicillin resistance was 35.4% (32.7% intermediate, 2.7% high resistance).
- Higher penicillin resistance observed in sick children (41.5%) vs. controls (26.6%).
Conclusions:
- Penicillin resistance in S. pneumoniae is a significant issue in Turkey.
- Urgent need for new strategies to control the spread of resistant strains.
- Findings highlight the importance of monitoring antibiotic resistance in pediatric populations.
Background:
Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the major infectious agents observed in children. In spite of the fact that penicillin is preferred in the treatment of infections caused by S. pneumoniae, there has been a world-wide increase in the frequency of penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae.
Methods:
One hundred and fifty sick children with a clinical diagnosis of pneumonia, meningitis, acute otitis media, acute sinusitis and septicemia or bacteremia, and 150 healthy children without any infection were examined. Streptococcus pneumoniae, which were isolated from the nasopharynx, were analyzed with respect to penicillin susceptibility using the agar dilution method.
Results:
The S. pneumoniae carriage rate was observed to be 43.3% in the group of sick children and 30.0% in the control group (P < 0.05). The penicillin resistance of S. pneumoniae isolated from the nasopharynx was determined to be 35.4% from a total of 110 isolates, with an intermediate resistance of 32.7% and a high resistance of 2.7%. The penicillin resistance of S. pneumoniae carried in the nasopharynx was determined to be 41.5% in the group of sick children and 26.6% in the control group (P > 0.05). Resistance rates of other antibiotics were determined as follows: cefotaxime 2.7%, erythromycin 19%, clarithromycin 5.4%, tetracycline 21.8%, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole 4.5% and rifampin 0%.
Conclusions:
Penicillin resistance of S. pneumoniae has recently become a problem in Turkey. Because of this, we require new strategies to limit the spread of drug-resistant S. pneumoniae.