Nasopharingeal carriage and antimicrobial resistance to Streptococcus pneumoniae in children of a day care center in Santa Fe de Bogotá

Abstract

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most important bacteria1 agent of acute respiratory disease in children less than 2 years old. S. pneumoniae colonizes the nasopharynx at birth and human beings are the only reservoir for the disease. At present, the worldwide propagation of resistant S. pneumoniae strains is considered a public health problem. The aim of this study was to establish, during six months, the percentage of S. pneumoniae nasopharyngeal carriers in a population of 20 children less than 2 years old attending a day care center. Additionally, to determine the distribution of capsular types and antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates recovered. The global percentage of colonization was 69%. All children were colonized at least once during the study period. The most frequent S. pneumoniae capsular types were'23F (41 %), 19F (26%), 6A (10%) and 10A(6%) and diminished susceptibility to penicillin (DSP) was established in 53% of the isolates. Global resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMPSX) was 68% to chloramphenicol, 43% and to erythromycin, 3%; besides, 42% of the isolates were multiresistant, being penicillin, TMPSX and chloramphenicol the most common pattern.The capsular types associated with DSP were 23F (72%), 19F (1 1%), 23A (8%), 6A (6%) and 15 (3%).The data showed the high percentage of colonization as well as antimicrobial resistance of the isolates with the potential risk of dissemination to the community. The data also underlined the importance of asurveillance system with carriers.