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Updated: May 23, 2026

Characterization of Inflammatory Responses During Intranasal Colonization with Streptococcus pneumoniae
09:12

Characterization of Inflammatory Responses During Intranasal Colonization with Streptococcus pneumoniae

Published on: January 17, 2014

Genomic characterization of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from a southern Taiwan medical centre,

Poyen Liu1,2, Anne-Kathryn Venero3, Theresa Tran3

  • 1Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.

Microbial Genomics
|May 22, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) now affects older adults and those with cancer more often. Targeted prevention is needed for these vulnerable groups, especially regarding antibiotic resistance in pneumococcal serotypes.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Epidemiology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) reduced invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in children.
  • IPD cases and serotype distribution have shifted to older adults and immunocompromised individuals.
  • Data on pneumococcal serotype and antibiotic resistance in the Asia-Pacific post-PCV and post-COVID-19 pandemic are scarce.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze patient demographics, pneumococcal serotypes, and antibiotic resistance profiles in IPD cases.
  • To investigate these profiles using whole-genome sequencing in southern Taiwan.
  • To inform targeted prevention strategies for vulnerable populations.

Main Methods:

  • Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of 61 invasive pneumococcal disease isolates.
  • Analysis of patient characteristics, serotype distribution, and antimicrobial resistance patterns.
  • Phylogenetic analysis to identify emerging lineages.

Main Results:

  • IPD predominantly affected patients aged 65+ (47.5%) and those with malignancy (34.3%).
  • Serotypes covered by 13-valent PCV (PCV13) accounted for 52.5% of isolates.
  • Overall penicillin non-susceptibility was 26.2%, rising to 43.8% for PCV13 serotypes.

Conclusions:

  • Older adults and individuals with comorbidities, especially malignancy, are key populations for IPD.
  • Emergence of multidrug-resistant strains, like serotype 34/ST9395, is a concern.
  • Enhanced surveillance and targeted interventions are crucial for controlling IPD in vulnerable groups.

Keywords:
antimicrobial resistanceinvasive pneumococcal diseasepneumococcal conjugate vaccineserotype

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