Recurrence of occult pneumococcal bacteremia by an identical strain in an apparently healthy child.
This is the first report to describe an apparently healthy girl, who developed recurrent occult bacteremia by the same Streptococcus pneumoniae strain, at 11 and 15 months of age. The two separately isolated organisms were demonstrated to have the identical serotype (type 6B), antibiotic susceptibility (intermediately penicillin-resistant), genotypes of penicillin-binding proteins, and patterns of pulse-field gel electrophoresis. The serum levels of anti-type 6B antibodies showed poor responses after both bacteremic episodes, but other immunological workups did not demonstrate any abnormalities. This case indicates that occult bacteremia may recur due to an identical pneumococcal strain in an immunocompetent infant, and that early introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is necessary in Japan.
Matsubara
Kousaku
K
Department of Pediatrics, Nishi-Kobe Medical Center, 5-7-1 Kojidai, Nishi-ku, Kobe 651-2273, Japan. kskmatsu@s4.dion.ne.jp
Fukaya
Takashi
T
Ubukata
Kimiko
K
Chen
Meng
M
Nigami
Hiroyuki
H
Harigaya
Hidekazu
H
Nozaki
Hideo
H
Tanaka
Takayuki
T
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D007223:Infant; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012008:Recurrence; D012703:Serotyping; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial