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A case of fatal sepsis in a child due to highly resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae
D Vukelić1, D Bozinović, I Knezović
1Klinika za infektivne bolesti Dr. Fran Mihaljevic, Zagreb.
Insights
Streptococcus pneumoniae infections cause significant illness and death. This report details the first fatal pediatric sepsis case in Croatia caused by penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality globally.
- While most strains remain penicillin-susceptible, penicillin-resistant strains are emerging.
- Early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment are crucial for managing pneumococcal infections.
Observation:
- A pediatric patient in Croatia presented with severe sepsis.
- The causative agent was identified as Streptococcus pneumoniae.
- The isolate demonstrated high-level resistance to penicillin.
Findings:
- This case represents the first documented instance of fatal sepsis due to highly penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in a child in Croatia.
- The patient's outcome highlights the clinical challenge posed by antimicrobial resistance.
- Standard penicillin therapy was ineffective in this case.
Implications:
- This case underscores the urgent need for enhanced surveillance of antibiotic resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae.
- It emphasizes the importance of considering antimicrobial susceptibility testing in severe pediatric infections.
- Clinicians should be aware of the potential for highly resistant strains and consider alternative treatment strategies.
Abstract:
Infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae continues to be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Most of the pneumococci remain exquisitely sensitive to penicillin. However, S. pneumoniae with a reduced susceptibility to penicillin has been reported. To our knowledge, we present the first case in Croatia of fatal sepsis in a child due to Streptococcus pneumoniae that was highly resistant to penicillin.