Epidemiology of Streptococcus pneumoniae infections at the Edinburgh City Hospital: 1980-95

We present data on pneumococcal isolates collected from deep and superficia l sites over a 16-year period at the Edinburgh City Hospital. The 10 most f requent serotypes overall were 6, 19, 11, 9, 3, 14, 1, 15 and 18 in childre n and 19, 23, 6, 6, 9, 11, 3, 15, 14, 22 and 4 in adults. Over 88% (2588/29 32, 88.3 %) of these pneumococci were of serotypes represented in the 23-va lent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine. Within the 20-45 years age group, 228/434 (52.5 %) of specimens were from HIV-infected individuals. The isol ations showed a seasonal distribution with peaks in February and troughs in September. The annual numbers of blood culture isolates showed an upward t rend. Recurrent isolations were more frequent in HIV-infected individuals ( 49/132, 37 %) than in non-HIV-infected individuals (218/2421, 9.9 %) (relat ive risk = 5.05, 95 % confidence interval; 3.46-7.03). The prevalence of re sistance to penicillin and erythromycin was lower than that reported in oth er parts of the UK.