Carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae in nasopharynx in children with nephrotic syndrome aged 2-5 years in Poland]

Children with nephrotic syndrome (NS) are at increased risk of Streptococcus pneumoniae infections. Streptococcus pneumoniae carrier state in the nasopharynx is an early stage of this infections. The aim of the study was to assess carriage rate and characterise bacterial isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae among children with NS in a prospective multicentre study involving 10 nephrologic centres in Poland. We studied 95 children including 56 boys (59%) i 39 girls (41%) with NS in mean age 3 i 7/12 +/- 11 miesiecy. All children had throat and nasopharynx swabs taken in two epidemiological seasons (Oct-Dec 2006 and Feb-Apr 2007). Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates were serotyped with PCR. Carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae was diagnosed in 13 children (13.7%) including 13 boys (100%). Following serotypes were found: 6B (38.5%), 9V (15.3%), 23F (15.3%), 19F (7.6%). There were 23.3% isolates without identifiable serotype. Carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae was diagnosed mostly in boys with NS. Serotype 6B was dominant in this age group.