Skip to main content

Serotypes and penicillin susceptibility of pneumococci isolated from blood.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Lauer, BA; Reller, LB
Published in: J Clin Microbiol
March 1980

To learn the prevalence of penicillin-resistant pneumococci and the distribution of serotypes in proved pneumococcal infections, we studied 98 pneumococci recovered from blood over a 4-year period. Penicillin susceptibility was determined by the agar dilution method. Serotyping was done by the capsular swelling (quellung) test. Only one strain showed diminished susceptibility to penicillin (minimal inhibitory concentration, 0.12 micrograms/ml). Twenty-three different serotypes were identified; types 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 14, and 19 were the most frequent. Type 4 was the most common serotype. Sixty-two percent of strains were serotypes included in a recently licensed 14-type pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (Pneumovax, Merck), and an additional 16% were antigenically related serotypes. Even though penicillin-resistant strains of pneumococci may rarely cause bacteremic pneumococcal infection, we suggest that isolates from cerebrospinal fluid, blood, and other normally sterile body fluids be tested for penicillin susceptibility. Inclusion of additional serotypes in future pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines should be based on the current distribution of serotypes in large series of proved pneumococcal infections.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Clin Microbiol

DOI

ISSN

0095-1137

Publication Date

March 1980

Volume

11

Issue

3

Start / End Page

242 / 244

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Streptococcus pneumoniae
  • Serotyping
  • Sepsis
  • Pneumococcal Infections
  • Penicillin Resistance
  • Middle Aged
  • Microbiology
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Child, Preschool
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Lauer, B. A., & Reller, L. B. (1980). Serotypes and penicillin susceptibility of pneumococci isolated from blood. J Clin Microbiol, 11(3), 242–244. https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.11.3.242-244.1980
Lauer, B. A., and L. B. Reller. “Serotypes and penicillin susceptibility of pneumococci isolated from blood.J Clin Microbiol 11, no. 3 (March 1980): 242–44. https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.11.3.242-244.1980.
Lauer BA, Reller LB. Serotypes and penicillin susceptibility of pneumococci isolated from blood. J Clin Microbiol. 1980 Mar;11(3):242–4.
Lauer, B. A., and L. B. Reller. “Serotypes and penicillin susceptibility of pneumococci isolated from blood.J Clin Microbiol, vol. 11, no. 3, Mar. 1980, pp. 242–44. Pubmed, doi:10.1128/jcm.11.3.242-244.1980.
Lauer BA, Reller LB. Serotypes and penicillin susceptibility of pneumococci isolated from blood. J Clin Microbiol. 1980 Mar;11(3):242–244.

Published In

J Clin Microbiol

DOI

ISSN

0095-1137

Publication Date

March 1980

Volume

11

Issue

3

Start / End Page

242 / 244

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Streptococcus pneumoniae
  • Serotyping
  • Sepsis
  • Pneumococcal Infections
  • Penicillin Resistance
  • Middle Aged
  • Microbiology
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Child, Preschool