Epidemiology and Infection

Table of Contents - 1999 - Volume 122, Issue 01  


Epidemiology of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in Malaysia

M. Y. ROHANI a1, A. RAUDZAH a1, A. J. NG a2, P. P. NG a3, A. A. R. ZAIDATUL a4, I. ASMAH a5, M. MURTAZA a6, N. PARASAKTHY a7, M. Y. MOHD YASMIN a7c1 and Y. M. CHEONG a8
a1 Bacteriology Division, Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
a2 Pathology Department, Hospital Pulau Pinang, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
a3 Pathology Department, Hospital Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
a4 Pathology Department, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
a5 Pathology Department, Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Johore Bharu, Johore, Malaysia
a6 Pathology Department, Hospital Queen Elizabeth, Kota Kinabalu Sabah, Malaysia
a7 Medical Microbiology Department, Hospital University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
a8 Pfizer Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abstract

During a 1-year period from October 1995 to September 1996, 273 isolations of Streptococcus pneumoniae were made from various types of clinical specimens. The majority of the isolates (39·2%) were from sputum whilst 27·5% were from blood, CSF and other body fluids. The organism was isolated from patients of all age groups, 31·1% from children aged 10 years and below, 64·7% of which come from children aged 2 years or below. The majority of the isolates belong to serotypes 1, 6B, 19B, 19F and 23F. Serotypes 1 and 19B were the most common serotypes associated with invasive infection. About 71·9% of the invasive infections were due to serotypes included in the available 23 valent polysaccharide vaccine. The rates of resistance to penicillin and erythromycin were 7·0 and 1·1% respectively. Our findings show that the serotypes of S. pneumoniae causing most invasive infections in Malaysia are similar to those in other parts of the world and the available vaccine may have a useful role in this population.

(Accepted June 23 1998)


Correspondence:
c1 Author for correspondence: Dr Rohani Md. Yasin, Bacteriology Division, Institute for Medical Research, 50588 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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