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Susceptibility pattern of Streptococcus pneumoniae among pre-school children in Kota Bharu, Malaysia
A S Malik1, A Ismail, R A Pennie
1School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Insights
Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) infections are common in children. This study found that S. pneumoniae isolates from Malaysian preschoolers were highly susceptible to penicillin, with only one resistant strain identified.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is a leading cause of bacterial pneumonia, meningitis, and otitis media, particularly in young children and the elderly.
- Increasing global antimicrobial resistance necessitates understanding local resistance patterns for effective treatment.
- Data on S. pneumoniae antibiotic susceptibility in Malaysia, especially among pre-school children, were previously unavailable.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of S. pneumoniae isolates from colonized pre-school children in Kota Bharu, Malaysia.
- To provide crucial data for optimizing empirical antibiotic regimens and initial S. pneumoniae infection therapy in the region.
Main Methods:
- Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 355 children aged 1 month to 6 years over one year.
- S. pneumoniae isolates were identified using standard microbiological techniques.
- Antibiotic susceptibility, specifically to penicillin, was tested using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method with a 1-microgram oxacillin disk.
Main Results:
- S. pneumoniae was isolated from 36 (10%) of the 355 specimens.
- A high level of susceptibility to penicillin was observed, with 35 out of 36 isolates (97.2%) being susceptible.
- The single penicillin-resistant isolate remained susceptible to erythromycin, chloramphenicol, and cephalosporins.
Conclusions:
- S. pneumoniae colonization in pre-school children in Kota Bharu, Malaysia, demonstrates high susceptibility to penicillin.
- These findings suggest penicillin remains a viable option for empirical treatment of S. pneumoniae infections in this population.
- Continued surveillance of antibiotic resistance patterns is essential for guiding antimicrobial stewardship.
Abstract:
Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is the most common bacterial cause of pneumonia, meningitis, and otitis media, with the highest incidence among young children and the elderly. S. pneumoniae was once routinely susceptible to penicillin, but since the mid-1980s the incidence of resistance to penicillin and other antimicrobial agents has been increasing all over the world. To optimize empirical regimens and initial therapy for S. pneumoniae infections, clinical healthcare providers must be informed about the prevalence and pattern of drug resistance among the isolates in their communities. No such data are available for the Malaysian population. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of S. pneumoniae among colonized pre-school children in Kota Bharu, Malaysia. Pharyngeal swabs were collected from children 1 month to 6 years of age. S. pneumoniae isolates were identified according to the standard and tested for penicillin resistance with a 1-microgram oxacillin disk by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion methods. Of 355 nasopharyngeal specimens obtained from kindergarten students, in-patients and pediatric clinics over a period of 1 year, S. pneumoniae was isolated from 36 (10 per cent). All isolates, except one, were susceptible to penicillin. The resistant isolates was susceptible to erythromycin, chloramphenicol and cephalosporins.