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Capsular Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae Using the Quellung Reaction
04:25

Capsular Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae Using the Quellung Reaction

Published on: February 24, 2014

Serotype distribution and antimicrobial resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates causing systemic infections

A Fenoll1, C Martín Bourgon, R Muñóz

  • 1Servicio de Bacteriología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Madrid, Spain.

Reviews of Infectious Diseases
|January 1, 1991
PubMed

Insights

Antibiotic resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae is alarmingly high in Spain. Over 11 years, penicillin resistance increased significantly, with many strains resistant to multiple antibiotics, impacting treatment options.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of bacterial infections worldwide.
  • Antibiotic resistance in S. pneumoniae poses a significant global health threat.
  • Understanding local resistance patterns is crucial for effective treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the serotypes and antibiotic susceptibilities of Streptococcus pneumoniae strains causing systemic infections in Spain over an 11-year period.
  • To assess the prevalence of antibiotic resistance, particularly penicillin resistance, and identify multidrug-resistant strains.
  • To evaluate the coverage of the 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine against prevalent serotypes.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 2,197 Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from patients with systemic infections.
  • Serotyping of isolates to identify predominant serogroups and serotypes.
  • Antimicrobial susceptibility testing against penicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and erythromycin.

Main Results:

  • Predominant serogroups/serotypes included 3, 6, 23, 19, 9, 1, 5, 8, 7, 14, 4, and 15, accounting for over 75% of strains.
  • 93% of isolates belonged to serotypes covered by the 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine.
  • Overall antibiotic resistance was 65.5%; penicillin resistance rose from 6% (1979) to 44% (1989).
  • Specific resistance rates: penicillin (28%), tetracycline (56%), chloramphenicol (43%), erythromycin (5%).
  • Seventy-one isolates were resistant to all four tested antibiotics.

Conclusions:

  • The prevalence of pneumococcal resistance in Spain is among the highest reported globally.
  • The increasing trend of penicillin resistance and multidrug resistance is a major concern.
  • The 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine covers the majority of prevalent serotypes, but resistance necessitates ongoing surveillance and treatment strategy adaptation.

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