title: Pneumococcal infections in eastern Saudi Arabia: serotypes and antibiotic sensitivity patterns.
abstract: The serotypes and antibiotic sensitivity patterns of Streptococcus pneumoniae infections were studied in 208 patients. Male to female ratio was 3 to 1. The main underlying diseases were cardiopulmonary disease (53%), sickle cell disease (13%), diabetes mellitus (11%) and malignancies (11%). The commonest infections were conjunctivitis, bronchopulmonary infections and otitis media. Serotypes 6 and 19 were the most common, especially in children, constituting 66% of the isolates. All the isolates were sensitive to penicillin, ampicillin and vancomycin, but 65% were resistant to cotrimoxazole. Penicillin, therefore, remains the best antimicrobial agent for treatment. All the serotypes are represented in the polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine available in the country; therefore some benefit can be expected from vaccination especially in the high risk patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Damman, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: el-Mouzan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Twan-Danso
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Al-Awamy
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Niazi
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Altorki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012703:Serotyping; D012737:Sex Factors; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines