Background

No recent data is available on the serotypes or antimicrobial susceptibility of S.pneumoniae isolated from nasopharyngeal carriage (NC) or invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in Egypt. We aimed to identify the serotypes and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of S.pneumoniae NC and IPD of Egyptian children younger than 5 years.

Methods

In 2 successive winter seasons (2016-2017), we enrolled 334 children less than 5 years, excluding those with signs of infection, antibiotic intake or hospitalization in the preceding month. Additionally, we studied 32 S.pneumoniae isolates from IPD, identified during the study duration.

We tested for S.pneumoniae by culture and PCR from NC and IPD. Serotyping was performed by sequential multiplex PCR for all positive samples. AST was done to S.pneumoniae isolates by Vitek-2™.

Results

PCR was positive from 65% of swabs compared to 32.9% by culture. The most common five serotypes were serotypes 1, 6 and 19 F, 5 and 18ABC. From IPD, the commonest serotypes were 1, 18ABC and 6.

The AST of NP isolates revealed low susceptibility rates to all antimicrobials except for vancomycin, levofloxacin and clindamycin. Isolates from clinical specimens, however were more susceptible.

Conclusions

Serotypes 1, 18ABC and 6 caused NC and IPD, and had low antimicrobial susceptibility.