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Molecular epidemiological characteristics of pneumococcal meningitis in children
R F Kornelisse1, M Sluijter, L Spanjaard
1Department of Pediatrics, Sophia Children's Hospital/University Hospital Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
The molecular epidemiological characteristics of pneumococcal meningitis in children were studied. Pneumococcal isolates were characterized by serotyping and two genotyping methods, BOX fingerprinting and restriction fragment end labeling, to evaluate whether clonal strains were present within the serotypes or serogroups. During a 17-year period, 68 children admitted to the Sophia Children's Hospital were diagnosed with meningitis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae. Pneumococcal isolates from 44 patients were still available for analysis. All strains were susceptible to penicillin. Serotypes/ serogroups 14, 19, 6, and 18 represented 56% of all isolates. The results of the molecular typing methods demonstrate the absence of clonal relatedness between isolates from patients with pneumococcal meningitis.
Insights
Molecular typing revealed no clonal strains in childhood pneumococcal meningitis cases. This study analyzed Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from 44 children over 17 years, finding common serotypes but no evidence of clonal spread.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Molecular epidemiology
- Bacteriology
Background:
- Pneumococcal meningitis remains a significant cause of childhood morbidity and mortality.
- Understanding the molecular characteristics of Streptococcus pneumoniae strains is crucial for effective disease control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the molecular epidemiological features of pneumococcal meningitis in children.
- To determine the presence of clonal strains among Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates causing meningitis.
Main Methods:
- Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates.
- Genotyping using BOX fingerprinting and restriction fragment end labeling.
- Analysis of isolates from 44 pediatric meningitis cases over a 17-year period.
Main Results:
- Serotypes/serogroups 14, 19, 6, and 18 accounted for 56% of isolates.
- All analyzed strains were susceptible to penicillin.
- Molecular typing methods indicated an absence of clonal relatedness between isolates.
Conclusions:
- The study did not find evidence of clonal strains in pediatric pneumococcal meningitis.
- Common serotypes circulate without apparent clonal expansion in this patient cohort.
- Further research into the epidemiology of pneumococcal meningitis is warranted.