Abstract
Introduction: The prevalence of Streptococcus pneumoniae in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is well known. Since the era of conjugated vaccines, pneumococcal serotyping has received renewed interest. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is useful to detect this organism and isolate its different serotypes. In Malaysia, studies on the prevalence of S. pneumoniae serotypes in adults admitted for CAP is limited.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of S. pneumoniae and its serotypes in the adult patients with CAP hospitalised in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center (UKMMC).
Methods: Adult patients hospitalised in UKMMC medical wards from December 2014 to August 2015, who met the criteria for CAP, were recruited. Multiplex PCR was performed on sputum samples to detect S. pneumoniae and its serotypes. Blood and sputum cultures as well as atypical bacteria serology, were also done.
Results: A total of 68 patients (39 male, 29 female) were recruited. The median age was 67(59-76) years. Forty-five patients (66.2%) had CURB-65 score of 0-1 and median length of hospital stay was 5(4-8) days. Aetiological agents were identified in 27 patients (39.7%). S. pneumoniae was the commonest bacteria detected (n=10;14.7%), followed by P. Aeruginosa (n=6;8.8%), M. pneumoniae (n=6;8.8%) and S. aureus (n=4;5.9%). S. pneumoniae was identified by PCR alone in 80% of cases (n=8), and 2 serotypes were isolated; 33F(n=8) and 8F(n=1).
Conclusion: S. pneumoniae is the commonest cause of CAP and serotype 33F was found to be the most prevalent in our patients. Multiplex PCR use on sputum samples increases the detection of S. pneumoniae by identifying 13.2% of cases.
- Copyright ©the authors 2016
