SEROTYPES OF STREPTOCOCCUS-PNEUMONIAE CAUSING INVASIVE CHILDHOOD INFECTIONS IN BANGLADESH, 1992 TO 1995

One hundred sixty-Eve invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae strains were i solated from children under five at Dhaka Shishu (Children's) Hospital during the period 1992 to 1995. Ninety-four strains were from cerebro spinal fluid, and 71 were from blood. More than 91% of the strains wer e isolated from patients aged 24 months or less. Predominant serotypes were, in descending order, 7F, 12F, 14, 15B, 4, 23F, 18, 5, and 22A. These comprised 70% of all isolates. The marked differences in serotyp e distribution in different countries indicate the need for a sentinel surveillance study for the countries of south Asia, particularly Bang ladesh, China, India, and Pakistan.