title: Serotypes and antimicrobial susceptibility in clinical isolates of Haemophilus influenzae from Korean children in prevaccination era.
abstract: Fifty-five strains of Haemophilus influenzae recovered at a children's hospital in Korea from 1992 through 1997, were analyzed for serotype and antibiotic resistance. Antimicrobial susceptibility was tested by broth dilution method. Among the 55 strains, 26 were from normally sterile body fluids, of which 17 were from the immunocompetent children. Spectrum in the immunocompetent included meningitis (47%), bacteremic pneumonia (18%), and bacteremia without focus (35%). Three (12%) of 26 invasive infections were caused by non-type b: one type d and two type f. Nine of 29 non-sterile body fluid isolates belonged to one of encapsulted serotypes: four a, two c, one of each of b, d and e. Thirty two (58%) strains were resistant to ampicillin, and all of which produced beta-lactamase. All of the strains were highly susceptible to amoxicillin/clavulanate, cefixime, cefuroxime, azithromycin and ciprofloxacin, while 1 (2%), 7 (13%), 4 (7%) and 4 (7%) strains were intermediate to cefprozil, cefaclor, loracarbef, and clarithromycin, respectively. The serotype distribution of H. influenzae in Korean children is similar to those in developed countries before the introduction of Hib conjugate vaccine, and ampicillin resistance rate is among the highest published to date.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea.
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Jacobs
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002648:Child; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D012703:Serotyping
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines