Incidence of nasopharyngeal carriers of streptococcus pneumoniae and antibiotic resistance in the children in Kermanshah 2012

Streptococcus pneumonia is one of the most common causes of adventitious-respiratory tract bacterial infections and one of the major causes of otitis, bacteremia, meningitis and pneumonia especially in the children. There is little information about the resistance of Streptococcus pneumonia to antibiotics in Iran. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the incidence of Streptococcus pneumonia carrier and survey of microbial resistance in the children. The current cross-sectional study was conducted from November to March 2012 in 554 children aged 2-12 years. Participants in the study were, preschool and school children in different parts of Kermanshah, Iran. Samples were collected using a sterile swab from the nasopharynx. The samples were transported to the laboratory using a medium. Then they were cultured on Blood agar. After isolation, confirmatory tests to determine antibiotic susceptibility were conducted. the prevalence of Streptococcus pneumonia was seen in 15% of cases. Antibiotic resistance isolates from these samples to antibiotics, including; azithromycin, amoxicillin, rifampin, amoxicillin, clavulanic acid, co-trimoxazole and ceftriaxone were 63.9%, 56.6%, 41%, 37.3%, 37.7 % and 3.6%, respectively. Also, 31.1% of the isolates were not resistant against any antibiotics. The indiscriminate use of antibiotics leads to antibiotic resistance, especially for Azithromycin, Amoxicillin, Amoxicillin Clavulanic Acid and Cotrimoxazole antibiotics. This indicates increased risk of resistance to treatment in the infectious diseases. Hence the necessity of adequate education to physicians and the public about the indiscriminate use of antibiotics.