[Apropos of a case of Streptococcus pneumoniae salpingitis, epidemiology of female genital pneumococcal infections].
BACKGROUND
Pneumoccocci were sometimes isolated from female genital tract specimens, usually without any clinical signification. However few cases of female pneumococcal genital infections were previously reported.


METHODS
We describe an additional report of salpingitis, occurring in a 35-years old female early after installation of an intra-uterine device.


CONCLUSIONS
Data collected by the National Reference Center for Pneumococci show that 0.9% of the strains documented in the past five years (1992 to 1996) were isolated from the female genitals tract. Most of these infections are caused by S. pneumoniae belonging to the serotypes 1 or 3. About 20% of the strains displayed a reduced sensitivity to penicillin. Although genital infections caused by S. pneumoniae and the neonatal colonisation with the maternal strain are rare, their potential occurrence should not be neglected. Thus, in order to limit the risks of such infections, an antibiotic treatment should immediately started following the detection of a pneumococcal genital carriage.
Gardien
E
E
Laboratoire de biologie, CH Sud-Léman-Valserine, Rue Amédée VIII de Savoie, 74160 Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, France.
Schlegel
L
L
Grégory
A
A
Tognelli
S
S
Frémaux
A
A
Geslin
P
P
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007434:Intrauterine Devices; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012488:Salpingitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D012703:Serotyping; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology