Nasal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae in healthy children and adults in northern Taiwan.
A total of 427 subjects were surveyed for the carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae before the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in northern Taiwan. Positive results were identified in 27% of 94 children attending 6 classes in a child care center (CCC), 14% of 122 pupils attending 4 classes in 2 elementary schools, and 1.4% of 74 adolescents attending 3 classes in a junior middle school. None of 137 health care workers working in neonatal intensive care units of a university-affiliated hospital was colonized with S. pneumoniae. Three (12%) of 25 isolates from the children attending the CCC were susceptible to penicillin (MIC <0.1 microg/mL), whereas 8 (44%) of 18 isolates from the pupils and adolescents were susceptible (P = 0.0312). Of the 43 isolates, 11 serotypes were identified and serotypes/serogroups 6 (13 isolates), 23 (10 isolates), and 19 (7 isolates) were the 3 most common serotypes/serogroups. The genotypes of the 43 isolates were diverse, but it was not infrequently seen that several isolates from the subjects in a single class shared a common genotype. Conclusively, the carriage rate of S. pneumoniae is inversely correlated with the age of the subjects. The isolates from the children attending the CCC had a significantly higher penicillin-nonsusceptible rate than those from the pupils and adolescents. Transmission of the same clone in a single class may have frequently occurred.
Chen
Chih-Jung
CJ
Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Children's Hospital, Kweishan 333, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Huang
Yhu-Chering
YC
Su
Lin-Hui
LH
Lin
Tzou-Yien
TY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology