Antibiotic-resistant pneumococcal infection in children with sickle cell disease in the United States.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this report is to examine the increasing problem of antibiotic-resistant pneumococcal infection in children with sickle cell disease in the United States.


METHODS
In this retrospective review, 16 children with sickle cell disease and penicillin-resistant pneumococcal invasive infection were identified. They had a median age of 2 years (range 1-15) and were treated in Memphis, Dallas, Los Angeles, and five other cities between 1987 and early 1995.


RESULTS
At presentation, patients frequently had high fever (> or 40.0 degrees C in 75%) and a toxic appearance (44%). Meningitis was present initially in two and diagnosed on days 4 and 5 in two. All were treated with an intravenous cephalosporin and nine received vancomycin. The clinical course was variable: two died within 36 h of presentation. In 20-86% of cases the organisms were resistant to cephalosporins, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, erythromycin, and clindamycin; none were resistant to vancomycin.


CONCLUSIONS
(a) The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in the United States poses special problems for patients with sickle cell disease. (b) Prompt antibiotic susceptibility testing of pneumococcal isolates should be performed. (c) Initial antibiotic management for patients suspected of sepsis/meningitis should include intravenous cephalosporin and vancomycin. (d) No alternative to penicillin prophylaxis is currently available. (e) An effective conjugated pneumococcal vaccine is needed.
Wang
W C
WC
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38101, USA.
Wong
W Y
WY
Rogers
Z R
ZR
Wilimas
J A
JA
Buchanan
G R
GR
Powars
D R
DR
D000293:Adolescent; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology