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Invasive pneumococcal infection and drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in Thai children
C Pancharoen1, A Chongthaleong, S Reinprayoon
1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Insights
Systemic Streptococcus pneumoniae infections in children are serious, with meningitis and pneumonia being common. Rising drug-resistant S. pneumoniae (DRSP) infections pose a significant threat.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of childhood infections.
- Invasive pneumococcal infections can lead to severe complications and mortality.
- Understanding antimicrobial resistance patterns is crucial for effective treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the clinical characteristics and outcomes of systemic Streptococcus pneumoniae infections in children.
- To investigate the prevalence of drug-resistant S. pneumoniae (DRSP) infections.
- To assess antimicrobial susceptibility patterns.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of 68 children with systemic S. pneumoniae infection (1986-1997).
- Analysis of patient demographics, clinical presentations, underlying diseases, complications, and mortality.
- Evaluation of antimicrobial susceptibility of S. pneumoniae isolates.
Main Results:
- Common clinical entities included meningitis (30), pneumonia (20), peritonitis (10), and septicemia/bacteremia (8).
- 58.8% of patients had underlying diseases; 25.0% developed early complications.
- Mortality rate was 8.8%; six cases of DRSP infection were identified.
Conclusions:
- Systemic S. pneumoniae infections in children are serious and potentially life-threatening.
- There is an increasing trend in invasive pneumococcal and DRSP infections.
- Effective management requires awareness of antimicrobial resistance.
Abstract:
Sixty-eight children with systemic Streptococcus pneumoniae infection were identified by hospital chart review between 1986-1997. The age distribution varied from 2 days to 15 years, with a mean age of 3.3 years. There were 35 boys and 33 girls. Four clinical entities included 30 cases of meningitis, 20 cases of pneumonia, 10 cases of peritonitis and 8 cases of septicemia/bacteremia. Forty patients (58.8%) had underlying diseases. Seventeen patients (25.0%) developed early complications and the mortality rate was 8.8 per cent. The percentage of susceptible isolates to penicillin, chloramphenicol, cefotaxime/ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, imipenem and vancomycin were 69.6, 91.3, 100.0, 87.2, 100.0 and 97.1 per cent, respectively. There were six cases of drug-resistant S. pneumoniae (DRSP) infection; 3 cases of meningitis, one case of pneumonia, one case of infective endocarditis and one case of purpura fulminans. Our data indicate that S. pneumoniae infection is relatively serious and life-threatening. There is a trend of increasing prevalence of invasive pneumococcal and DRSP infections.