Serotype Distribution and Antimicrobial Resistance of Invasive S. pneumoniae among Indian Children before the Introduction of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine

This study was conducted to provide current information on serotype distribution and drug resistance patterns of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae among children. Sterile site samples from 1,504 children 5 years, who were clinically and radiologically suspected of having invasive pneumococcal infection were evaluated. The leading serotypes causing invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) were 1, 6B, and 14. High-level penicillin resistance was observed in 11% of isolates belonging to serotypes 6B, 1, and 5. Multidrug resistance was observed in 24% of strains. Our results reveal that PCV-10 and PCV-13 vaccines can protect against 68% and 78% of IPD serotypes, respectively.