Seroepidemiologic characterization of Streptococcus pneumoniae in a Saudi hospital

Although Streptococcus pneumoniae are responsible for over 90 percent of bacterial pneumonia, different serotypes occur in different geographical locations. Studies show that the particular serotypes that cause pneumococcal infection in different countries have been identified, but such is not the case with Saudi Arabia.A preliminary study of 358 patients at King Saud University Hospital, Riyadh, conducted between October 1982 and December 1985, revealed the presence of somewhat different serotypes in Saudi Arabia. Hence the need for more comprehensive clinical and epidemiologic studies to generate data unique to Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.