Infection and Drug Resistance (Aug 2022)
High Prevalence of Asymptomatic Nasopharyngeal Carriage Rate and Multidrug Resistance Pattern of Streptococcus pneumoniae Among Pre-School Children in North Showa Ethiopia
Abstract
Mihret Tilahun,1 Mesfin Fiseha,1 Endris Ebrahim,1 Seada Ali,1 Melaku Ashagrie Belete,1 Abdurahaman Seid,1 Wondmagegn Demsiss,1 Alemu Gedefie,1 Selamyhun Tadesse,2 Chernet Belayhun3 1Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia; 3Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Mehal Meda Hospital, Mehal Meda, North Showa, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Mihret Tilahun, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, 1145, Ethiopia, Tel +251- 913867849, Email [email protected]: Streptococcus pneumoniae infection is still the world’s most serious public health problem among children under the age of five. Nasopharyngeal carriage rate of Streptococcus pneumoniae has been identified as an important risk factor for the acquisition of community acquired respiratory tract infection. To date, little is known about the nasopharyngeal infection and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Streptococcus pneumoniae among preschool children in Ethiopia.Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of nasopharyngeal carriage and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Streptococcus pneumoniae among preschool children.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2021 to April 2022. A total of 418 preschool children were enrolled using a multistage sampling technique. Nasopharyngeal swab was collected and transported to Medical Microbiology Laboratory at Debre Berhan comprehensive specialized hospital using skim-milk tryptone glucose glycerol transport media. The swab was inoculated on blood agar plates supplemented with 5μg/mL gentamycin and incubated at 37°C for 24– 48 hours under 5% CO2 using a candle jar. Identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae was performed using Gram stain, catalase test, optochin test and bile solubility test. Antimicrobial sensitivity tests were done using a modified Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Data were entered into the statistical package Epi data 4.0.0.6 and transferred to and analyzed using SPSS software version-23. A P-value ≤ 0.05 with 95% CI was considered to be statistically significant.Results: The prevalence of Streptococcus pneumoniae nasopharyngeal carriage was 29.9% (125/418). The overall rate of multidrug resistance was 86 (68.8%), with tetracycline (68.8%) and TMP-SMX (68%). Among risk factors, young age and passive smoking were associated with pneumococcal carriage.Conclusion: The present study revealed a substantially lower prevalence of Streptococcus pneumoniae nasopharyngeal carriage. High antimicrobial resistance was observed for most antimicrobial drugs tested. Younger age groups and passive smokers were at risk of Streptococcus pneumoniae nasopharyngeal carriage.Keywords: Streptococcus pneumoniae, nasopharyngeal carriage, antimicrobial susceptibility
