Pneumococcal disease, caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, is a major burden to global health. Although the World Health Organisation (WHO) strongly recommends the inclusion of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines in national immunisation programmes (NIP’s) worldwide, this has not occurred in many countries in the WHO South East Asia and Western Pacific regions – particularly longstanding middle-income countries. It is widely accepted that carriage of S. pneumoniae is a precursor to developing any pneumococcal disease. The reduction in pneumococcal disease from vaccine serotypes (VT) following widespread implementation of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) is believed to be through the direct immunogenic protective effect of immunised individuals as well as indirectly through herd immunity diminishing the incidence of disease in nonimmunised individuals. In Malaysia, pneumococcal disease is not included in national surveillance programmes and although PCVs have been licensed, they have not been included in the NIP. Hence, the vaccine is only available privately and the majority of the population is not able to afford it. There is an urgent need to develop surveillance programmes in Malaysia to include pneumococcal serotype data from carriage and invasive disease so that it may help guide national vaccine policy prior to a decision being taken on the inclusion of PCVs in the NIP.
Streptococcus pneumoniae

Background: Identifying the causes of childhood meningitis is difficult. Conventional diagnostic tests (culture, bacterial latex and Gram staining) have limitations, especially in settings where many children receive antibiotics prior to presentation. A point-of-care test called Binax NOW detects meningitis due to 'Streptococcus pneumoniae' in 15 minutes and is not affected by pre-test antibiotic use.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted among children with suspected bacterial meningitis at Angau Memorial General Hospital to evaluate the usefulness of the Binax NOW 'S. pneumoniae' test in comparison with conventional tests: cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) bacterial culture, Gram stain and latex agglutination. Latex antigen testing was done for 'S. pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria meningitidis'. We analysed the CSF of all children who had a lumbar puncture done for clinical suspicion of meningitis. FINDINGS: 132 children were enrolled in the study, of which 3 were excluded because of insufficient CSF sample to do the Binax NOW test. 5 CSFs were culture positive, all for 'S. pneumoniae'. 13 (10%) of 129 CSF specimens had organisms seen with Gram staining; 7 had Gram-positive cocci and 6 showed Gram-negative bacteria. Latex antigens were positive in 20 cases: for S. pneumoniae (11), 'H. influenzae' (8), 'N. meningitidis' (1). Using the 3 conventional tests combined (culture, Gram stain and antigens) 14 cases of 'S. pneumoniae' meningitis were detected. Binax NOW was positive for 'S. pneumoniae' in 19 cases (15% of meningitis cases): the 14 samples positive by conventional methods and a further 5 cases that were not detected by conventional methods.

Conclusion: The Binax NOW test increases the diagnostic yield for pneumococcal meningitis on CSF. This may be important in surveillance for the effectiveness of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduced in Papua New Guinea (PNG) in 2014, and in clinical diagnosis. 'H. influenzae' is rarely identified on culture in PNG provincial hospital laboratories, so latex antigen testing is still needed for the accurate diagnosis of 'Haemophilus' meningitis and monitoring of the effectiveness of 'Haemophilus influenzae' type b vaccine.
Streptococcus pneumoniae

No Abstract Available.
Catalase* ; Streptococcus pneumoniae* ; Streptococcus*

No abstract available.
Penicillins ; Streptococcus pneumoniae* ; Streptococcus*

Study used the methods of PCR-SSCP-sequencing to detect and identify point mutations in pbp1a gene, one of the genes involved in penicillin resistance of streptococcus pneuminiae. SSCP analysis result of PCR products from 19 clinical resistant and 1 susceptible strains allowed their classification into defferent groups depending on their electrophoretic pattern. This classification fits results obtained by sequencing. With improvement in the resolution capacity of SSCP, these methods could be used efficiently to investigate penicillin resistance in streptococcus pneuminiae
Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Mutation ; Genes

Outline on the antibiotic resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated during 1989-1995 in Viet Nam based on the data of antimicrobial susceptibility tests of NIHE and ASTS project. Comparing to the data from countries in South East Asis/India we found that: Str.pneumoniae is still susceptible to benzylpenicillin. B-lactams, macrolides, chloramphenicol. In many countries the reported incidence of drug-resistant Str.Pneumoniae has increased in the last year. The frequency and patterns of resistance vary in different geographic regions, countries and over different periods.
Drug Resistance ; Streptococcus pneumoniae

China ; Humans ; Streptococcus pneumoniae

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Streptococcus pneumoniae* ; Streptococcus*

No abstract available.
Penicillin Resistance* ; Penicillins* ; Streptococcus pneumoniae* ; Streptococcus*

No abstract available.
Penicillins* ; Pneumonia* ; Sepsis* ; Streptococcus pneumoniae* ; Streptococcus*