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Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae at the initial stage of influenza

Misao Takano1, Kyoko Ozaki, Yoshiyuki Nitahara

  • 1Department of Infectious Disease Control and International Medicine, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan.

Pediatrics International : Official Journal of the Japan Pediatric Society
|May 8, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae are common in children with influenza. Current vaccines may prevent some strains, but resistant non-typeable H. influenzae remains a concern.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Vaccinology

Background:

  • Co-infections with Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae can increase influenza severity in children.
  • While vaccinations for S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae were introduced in Japan in 2008, detailed characteristics of these pathogens during early influenza infection remain understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence, serotypes, and antimicrobial resistance of S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae in children with influenza.
  • To compare findings in influenza-positive children with those in children with upper respiratory tract infections but without influenza.

Main Methods:

  • Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from children with influenza (n=236) and a control group with upper respiratory tract infections (n=189).
  • Samples were analyzed for bacterial pathogens, including S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae, focusing on serotypes, drug susceptibilities, and resistance genes/mutations.

Main Results:

  • S. pneumoniae, beta-streptococci, Staphylococcus aureus, Moraxella catarrhalis, and H. influenzae were isolated.
  • Prevalent S. pneumoniae serotypes included 3, 6, 19, and 23, with penicillin, macrolide, and clindamycin resistance observed.
  • H. influenzae type b showed significant ampicillin resistance; most isolates were non-typeable. Similar pathogen characteristics were noted in the control group.

Conclusions:

  • Drug-resistant S. pneumoniae (serotypes 19, 23) and H. influenzae type b were present in the early stages of influenza infection, similar to non-influenza URTI cases.
  • Current vaccines may offer protection against some identified strains.
  • The prevalence of drug-resistant, non-typeable H. influenzae is a significant concern requiring further attention.
Abstract

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