Prevalence of penicillin-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae in nasopharyngeal cultures from patients with sickle cell disease.
BACKGROUND
Prevention of pneumococcal sepsis in children with sickle cell disease (SCD) is threatened by the emergence of penicillin-nonsusceptible pneumococci.


METHODS
In this study, nasopharyngeal colonization with Streptococcus pneumoniae and penicillin susceptibility were compared in children with SCD and a control group. Nasopharyngeal cultures were obtained from 130 children with SCD and 123 control children. Penicillin susceptibility was determined by Epsilometer test. Compliance with penicillin prophylaxis in SCD patients was determined by parent interviews and review of patients' medical and pharmacy records.


RESULTS
Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from 8 (6%) of 130 SCD patients, and 21 (17%) of 123 control patients. Of the 29 S pneumoniae isolates, 6 (21%) were nonsusceptible to penicillin; 4 of 8 (50%) were from the SCD group and 2 of 21 (10%) from the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Penicillin prophylaxis decreased the rate of S pneumoniae colonization in SCD patients; however, it also increased the risk of selective colonization with penicillin-nonsusceptible S pneumoniae.
Sakhalkar
V S
VS
Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Mich, USA.
Sarnaik
S A
SA
Asmar
B I
BI
Conner-Warren
R
R
Shurney
W
W
Abdel-Haq
N M
NM
D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012703:Serotyping; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000145:classification