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Systemic pneumococcal disease in Norway 1995-2001: capsular serotypes and antimicrobial resistance

M K Pedersen1, E A Høiby, L O Frøholm

  • 1Division of Infectious Disease Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway.

Epidemiology and Infection
|April 6, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Antimicrobial resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae remained low and stable between 1995-2001 in Norway. Most isolates were covered by existing pneumococcal vaccines, indicating their continued relevance.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Vaccinology

Background:

  • Systemic pneumococcal disease remains a significant public health concern.
  • Monitoring antimicrobial resistance and serotype distribution is crucial for effective treatment and prevention strategies.
  • The Norwegian Institute of Public Health collects and analyzes isolates from invasive pneumococcal disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess trends in antimicrobial resistance of pneumococcal isolates.
  • To determine the distribution of pneumococcal serotypes causing invasive disease.
  • To evaluate the coverage of current and developing pneumococcal vaccines.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 4624 pneumococcal isolates collected from 1995-2001.
  • Serotyping of all isolates.
  • Antimicrobial susceptibility testing against key antibiotics (benzylpenicillin, lincomycin, erythromycin, tetracycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole).

Main Results:

  • Low and stable antimicrobial resistance rates observed: benzylpenicillin (0.1%) to erythromycin (2.5%).
  • Consistent serotype distribution over 7 years, with serotypes 1, 4, 9, 14, 7, 6, and 23 being most common (70.5%).
  • High coverage by vaccines: 95.8% by 23-valent polysaccharide, 52.2% by 7-valent conjugate, and 85.5% by 11-valent conjugate vaccines.

Conclusions:

  • Pneumococcal isolates in Norway showed low and stable antimicrobial resistance during 1995-2001.
  • The predominant serotypes were well-covered by the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine.
  • Conjugate vaccines demonstrated varying but significant coverage, highlighting their importance in disease prevention.

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