SEROTYPES OF STREPTOCOCCUS-PNEUMONIAE BLOOD CULTURE ISOLATES FROM ADULTS IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, OHIO

Isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae in cultures of blood from 258 adu lts seen in 10 Franklin County, Ohio, hospitals from 1991 and 1992 wer e serotyped. Most strains (230 [89.2%]) belonged to serotypes that are included in the current pneumococcal vaccine. An additional 16 isolat es (6.2%) were immunologically related to strains with serotypes that are included in the vaccine. Only 12 isolates (4.6%) were not covered by the vaccine. The rate of mortality from pneumococcal bacteremia in adults remains high (20%). While recent studies have documented the ef ficacy of the pneumococcal vaccine for preventing pneumococcal bactere mia (56 to 70%), use of the pneumococcal vaccine in susceptible patien ts by physicians remains low (19% in Franklin County). Additional effo rts need to be expended to increase the use of the pneumococcal vaccin e.