S. pneumoniae, Palestinian Territories | CDC EID

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Volume 17, Number 1–January 2011
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Serotype Distribution and Drug Resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae, Palestinian Territories

Randa Kattan, Amal Abu Rayyan, Inas Zheiman, Suzan Idkeidek, Sabri Baraghithi, Nabeel Rishmawi, Sultan Turkuman, Afaf Abu-Diab, Riyad Ghneim, Madeleine Zoughbi, Rula Dauodi, Raed Ghneim, Abed-El-Razeq Issa, Issa Siryani, Randa Al Qas, Rawan Liddawi, Hatem Khamash, Moein Kanaan, Hiyam Marzouqa, and Musa Y. Hindiyeh Comments to Author

Author affiliations: Caritas Baby Hospital, Bethlehem, Palestinian Territories, West Bank (R. Kattan, N. Rishmawi, S. Turkuman, A. Abu-Diab, Riyad Ghneim, M. Zoughbi, R. Dauodi, Raed Ghneim, A.-E.-R. Issa, I. Siriani, R. Al Qas, R. Lidawi, H. Marzouqa, M.Y. Hindiyeh); Bethlehem University, Bethlehem (A. Abu Rayan, M. Kanaan, M.Y. Hindiyeh); and Maqassed Islamic Hospital, East Jerusalem, Palestinian Territories (I. Zheiman, S. Idkeidk, S. Barghithi, H. Khamash)

Suggested citation for this article

Abstract
To determine antimicrobial drug resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes, we analyzed isolates from blood cultures of sick children residing in the West Bank before initiation of pneumococcal vaccination. Of 120 serotypes isolated, 50.8%, 73.3%, and 80.8% of the bacteremia cases could have been prevented by pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. Serotype 14 was the most drug-resistant serotype isolated.

Streptococcus pneumoniae infection is a common cause of illness and death worldwide, responsible for an estimated 1.2 million infant deaths each year (1). The polysaccharide capsule is one of the primary virulence factors that contributes to S. pneumoniae pathogenicity (2). Management of S. pneumoniae infections has been complicated by the emergence of multiple antimicrobial drug–resistant strains (3).

Before the introduction of the 7-valent polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine (PCV7), serotypes included in this vaccine were responsible for ≈90% of pneumococcal infections in children living in industrialized countries; in developing countries, coverage has been reported as low as 26% (4,5). The use of PCV7 reduced the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in children <5 years of age in the United States by 76% (6). However, nonvaccine serotypes (i.e., 19A, 6C) have emerged as primary pathogens in IPD (7). More recently, the American Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended using the new Food and Drug Administration–licensed 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13), which contains the 7 serotypes present in PCV7 and 6 additional serotypes (1, 3, 5, 6A, 7F, and 19A). full-text: S. pneumoniae, Palestinian Territories | CDC EID


Suggested Citation for this Article

Kattan R, Rayyan AA, Zheiman I, Idkeidek S, Baraghithi S, Rishmawi N, et al. Serotype distribution and drug resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae, Palestinian Territories. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2011 Jan [date cited]. http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/17/1/94.htm


DOI: 10.3201/eid1701.100886

Comments to the Authors

Please use the form below to submit correspondence to the authors or contact them at the following address:

Musa Y. Hindiyeh, Clinical Laboratory Division, Caritas Baby Hospital, Bethlehem, Palestinian Territories, West Bank; email: hindiyeh@yahoo.com