Pneumococcal infections in eastern Saudi Arabia: serotypes and antibiotic sensitivity patterns.

The serotypes and antibiotic sensitivity patterns of Streptococcus pneumoniae infections were studied in 208 patients. Male to female ratio was 3 to 1. The main underlying diseases were cardiopulmonary disease (53%), sickle cell disease (13%), diabetes mellitus (11%) and malignancies (11%). The commonest infections were conjunctivitis, bronchopulmonary infections and otitis media. Serotypes 6 and 19 were the most common, especially in children, constituting 66% of the isolates. All the isolates were sensitive to penicillin, ampicillin and vancomycin, but 65% were resistant to cotrimoxazole. Penicillin, therefore, remains the best antimicrobial agent for treatment. All the serotypes are represented in the polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine available in the country; therefore some benefit can be expected from vaccination especially in the high risk patients.