Streptococcus pneumoniae and haemophilus influenzae type B carriage in infants presenting to Zola Community Health Centre for routine immunization
Date
2014-05-23
Authors
Mbelle, Nontombi Marylucy
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Abstract
Acute respiratory tract infections are the most common cause o f illness and death in the
pediatric population worldwide. It is estimated that 70 - 80% o f severe pneumonias in Africa
are caused by S.pnewnoniae (the pneumococcus) followed by H. influenzae type b.
Surveillance reveals that drug resistance is increasing worldwide, South Africa not being an
exception. This has considerably complicated the management o f infections caused by both
the pneumococcus and H. influenzae type b ( H ib ).
It is widely accepted that colonization of the nasopharynx even briefly precedes middle ear
infection and invasive pneumococcal disease. Early onset of colonization after birth has been
associated with early onset o f middle ear infections. Furthermore, colonized children are
able to transmit these organisms to other children.
Carriage o f pneumococci commonly occurs in young children. The carriage of resistant
pneumococci is usually limited to those serotypes carried in children. N ew conjugate
vaccines may be able to reduce colonization o f these serotypes.
This study was undertaken to determine the serotypes and susceptibility o f pneumococci and
H. influenzae type b, and the proportion o f healthy children colonized at Zola Community
Health Centre (ZCHC) in Soweto.