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[Nasopharyngeal colonization by Streptococcus pneumoniae in children with sickle cell disease receiving prophylactic

Patricia B Blum Fonseca1, Josefina Aparecida P Braga, Antônia Maria de O Machado

  • 1Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina (UNIFESP/EPM), São Paulo, SP. patricia_blum@uol.com.br

Jornal De Pediatria
|April 29, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Penicillin prophylaxis effectively reduced nasopharyngeal pneumococcus colonization in children with sickle cell disease. This treatment did not increase penicillin resistance, supporting its use for both prevention and managing febrile illnesses.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Hematology
  • Microbiology

Context:

  • Children with sickle cell disease are at increased risk for pneumococcal infections.
  • Penicillin prophylaxis is a standard preventive measure in this population.
  • Understanding pneumococcal colonization and antibiotic resistance is crucial for effective management.

Purpose:

  • To determine the prevalence of nasopharyngeal pneumococcus colonization in children with sickle cell disease receiving penicillin prophylaxis.
  • To identify risk factors associated with pneumococcal colonization.
  • To characterize the serotypes and antibiotic resistance patterns of isolated pneumococci.

Summary:

  • A study of 98 children with sickle cell disease found a 13.3% prevalence of nasopharyngeal pneumococcus colonization.
  • Younger children (under 2 years) had a significantly higher risk of colonization.
  • While 21% of isolates showed intermediate penicillin resistance, none were highly resistant, and all were susceptible to other antibiotics like erythromycin and ceftriaxone. Serotypes 18C and 23F were most common.

Impact:

  • Penicillin prophylaxis was found to reduce pneumococcal colonization without increasing penicillin resistance in children with sickle cell disease.
  • These findings support the continued use of penicillin for both prophylaxis and acute febrile management in this vulnerable population.
  • This research contributes to optimizing antibiotic strategies for sickle cell disease patients.
Abstract

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