Carriage of penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae by children in day-care centers during an intervention program in Malmo, Sweden.
BACKGROUND
An increasing incidence of penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PRP) was detected in Malmo in 1994.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate clonality and factors facilitating the spread of PRP among children in day-care centers (DCCs).


METHODS
We used phenotypic and DNA-fingerprinting methods in conjunction with epidemiologic data from the South Swedish Pneumococcal Intervention Project's investigation of 63 DCCs during a 3-year period (1995 to 1997) in the Malmo region.


RESULTS
A questionnaire about building and hygiene standards disclosed no statistically significant risk factor for carriage of pneumococci. However, age younger than the mean age at the DCC or in the child group was positively associated with carriage. Contrary to expectations no association with the number of children, either at the DCC or in the individual groups, was found. Of 2912 investigated children 1224 (42%) were carriers of S. pneumoniae, and 373 (12.8%) were PRP carriers (MIC > or = 0.1 microg/ml). Among isolates with MIC > or = 0.5 microg/ml 9 serogroups and 30 genetic types were found. Two clones in serogroups 9 (33%) and 19 (24%) were dominant in most municipality districts, and dominance was sustained during the whole study period. The previously internationally recognized serotype 9V clone seemed to be very stable, with a single DNA type and resistance pattern during the study period. In contrast the serogroup 19 isolates and other serogroups had diverse DNA types and resistance patterns, supporting the hypothesis that DCCs have a unique microenvironment facilitating the recombination of penicillin-binding protein genes among streptococci. In five DCCs we found PRP isolates with two different serogroups but an identical genetic type, indicating that serotype shift may be a common phenomenon in DCCs.


CONCLUSIONS
Multivariate logistic regression of risk factors disclosed that young age of the children in the child groups was a significant risk factor for carriage of S. pneumoniae.
Nilsson
P
P
Department of Pediatrics, University of Lund, University Hospital, Malmo, Sweden. percy.nilsson@pediatrik.mas.lu.se
Laurell
M H
MH
D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology*; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D010406:Penicillins / Q000494:pharmacology; D010641:Phenotype; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D012703:Serotyping; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
D010406:Penicillins