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[Pneumococcal meningitis in Spanish children: incidence, serotypes and antibiotic resistance. Prospective and

J Casado Flores1, A Fenoll, J Aristegui Fernández

  • 1Hospital Infantil del Niño Jesús, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain. jcasadof@line-pro.es

Anales Espanoles De Pediatria
|October 24, 2002
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

The incidence of Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis in Spanish children is high, with nearly half of strains showing penicillin resistance. Most serotypes are covered by the heptavalent conjugate vaccine.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Bacterial meningitis epidemiology
  • Antimicrobial resistance surveillance

Context:

  • Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children.
  • Accurate incidence data and serotype distribution are crucial for prevention strategies.
  • Antibiotic resistance patterns inform treatment guidelines.

Purpose:

  • To determine the incidence of pneumococcal meningitis in Spanish children.
  • To identify prevalent serotypes and their antibiotic resistance patterns.
  • To assess the coverage of existing conjugate vaccines.

Summary:

  • A prospective, multicenter study in Spain identified 52 cases of pneumococcal meningitis in children aged 0-14 years.
  • The annual incidence was highest in children aged 1-2 years (17.75/100,000).
  • Serotype 19F was most common (28.6%), and 47.6% of isolates showed reduced penicillin sensitivity. Eighty percent of serotypes were included in the heptavalent conjugate vaccine.

Impact:

  • The study reveals a high incidence of pneumococcal meningitis in the studied Spanish population.
  • Findings highlight the significant prevalence of penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae strains.
  • The high vaccine-serotype coverage underscores the importance of conjugate vaccination programs.

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