Abstract | OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococci) in the nasopharynx of healthy children enrolled in public day-care centers of the municipality of Umuarama, state of Paraná, Brazil. The susceptibility of the pneumococcal strains to antimicrobial agents was also studied. METHODS: Nasopharyngeal specimens from 212 children were collected from April to October 2008. After the specimens were seeded in blood agar and incubated at 37 degrees C for 24-48 hours, the colonies suspected of belonging to S. pneumoniae were identified using alpha- hemolysis, optochin sensitivity, and bile solubility test. Penicillin susceptibility was investigated using the disk diffusion and dilution tests. Susceptibility to the other antimicrobial agents indicated for the treatment of pneumococcal infections was investigated using the disk diffusion test. RESULTS: CONCLUSIONS: The present study detected a high prevalence of healthy children colonized with penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae strains who may be important reservoirs of this pathogen in the community.
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Authors | Patrícia A G Velasquez, Leandro Parussolo, Celso L Cardoso, Maria Cristina B Tognim, Lourdes B Garcia |
Journal | Jornal de pediatria
(J Pediatr (Rio J))
2009 Nov-Dec
Vol. 85
Issue 6
Pg. 516-22
ISSN: 1678-4782 [Electronic] Brazil |
PMID | 20016869
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Anti-Bacterial Agents
(classification, pharmacology)
- Brazil
- Child
- Child Day Care Centers
- Child, Preschool
- Female
- Humans
- Infant
- Male
- Nasopharynx
(microbiology)
- Penicillin Resistance
- Public Sector
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
(drug effects, isolation & purification)
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