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Updated: May 12, 2026
Capsular Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae by Latex Agglutination
Published on: September 25, 2014
[Invasive isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Serbia: antimicrobial susceptibility and serotypes]
Insights
Invasive pneumococcal disease shows high resistance to penicillin and erythromycin, especially in children. Continuous monitoring of Streptococcus pneumoniae antimicrobial susceptibility is crucial for effective treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Antimicrobial Resistance
Context:
- Streptococcus pneumoniae causes significant invasive pneumococcal disease globally, particularly in children.
- Increasing antibiotic resistance poses a major public health challenge.
- Understanding resistance patterns is vital for managing infections.
Purpose:
- To determine the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of invasive pneumococcal isolates.
- To investigate the association between specific serotypes and reduced antibiotic susceptibility.
- To assess resistance trends in Serbia.
Summary:
- A study analyzed 58 invasive pneumococcal strains from Serbia (2009-2011) against 19 antibiotics.
- High rates of penicillin (34%) and erythromycin (36%) nonsusceptibility were found, with greater resistance in children.
- Serotypes 19F and 14 were most frequently resistant; all strains remained susceptible to vancomycin and fluoroquinolones.
Impact:
- The findings highlight a critical need for ongoing surveillance of invasive pneumococcal disease.
- Serotype distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility data are essential for public health interventions.
- This research informs treatment guidelines and antibiotic stewardship programs.
Introduction:
Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the leading causes of bacterial meningitis and sepsis. Invasive pneumococcal disease is a significant medical problem worldwide, particularly in children, due to a huge increase of pneumococcal resistance to antibiotics.
Objective:
The aim of the study was to investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of invasive pneumococcal isolates, as well as to determine whether decreased S. pneumoniae susceptibility to antibiotics was related to a particular serotype.
Methods:
Antimicrobial susceptibility to 19 antibiotics was determined in 58 invasive pneumococcal strains that were collected from seven regional centers during the period July 2009 to February 2011 in the National Reference Laboratory for streptococci and pneumococci.
Results:
The overall nonsusceptibility rate to penicillin was detected in 34% of pneumococcal isolates and to erythromycin in 36%. Higher resistance rates were observed among children than among adults. Penicillin resistance rate was 65% in children versus 22% in adults, while erythromycin nonsusceptibility rate was 47% in children versus 32% in adults. Co-resistance to penicillin and erythromycin was detected in 21% strains, mostly isolated from children. Multiresistance was found in one third of isolates. All strains were susceptible to vancomycin, linezolid, fluoroquinolones, telithromycin and rifampicin, while 23 (40%) isolates were susceptible to all tested antibiotics. The most common resistant serotypes were 19F and 14.
Conclusion:
The study has revealed that penicillin and macrolide resistance among invasive pneumococcal isolates is very high in Serbia. This emphasizes the need for continuous monitoring for invasive pneumococcal disease to document the serotype distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern.
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