Nosocomial transmission of penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae

Two patients were found to harbor intermediate-level penicillin-resistant S treptococcus pneumoniae in a pediatric hospital setting. For the first pati ent, the bacterium was isolated from a tracheal aspirate, and for the secon d patient, a positive blood culture was found a short time after the index case. Two molecular typing techniques (enterobacterial repetitive intergeni c consensus sequence polymerase chain reaction, and repetitive sequence-bas ed polymerase chain reaction) demonstrated homology among these isolates, w hich suggests person-to-person spread. We propose the need for institution- based infection control precautions that will limit the spread of penicilli n-resistant pneumococci. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1999; 27:432-434, (C) 1999 Wiley -Liss, Inc.