Mv. Boost et al., Prevalence of carriage of antimicrobial resistant strains of Streptococcuspneumoniae in primary school children in Hong Kong, EPIDEM INFE, 127(1), 2001, pp. 49-55
A cross-sectional survey was conducted to determine prevalence and assess r
isk factors for carriage of antibiotic resistant strains of Streptococcus p
neumoniae in healthy school children in Hong Kong. Throat swabs were collec
ted from 1455 subjects and written questionnaires providing demographic dat
a and medical history were completed by parents. The overall carriage rate
of Streptococcus pneumoniae was 3.5 %, of which 49 % were penicillin resist
ant. High levels of resistance to tetracycline (73 %), erythromycin (52 %),
trimethoprim. (66 %) and ciprofloxacin (57 %) were observed. Carriage was
associated with presence of a younger sibling (OR = 1.79) and use of antibi
otics (OR = 2.31). High use of day care and small size of housing units did
not result in a high rate of carriage. The low rate of carriage may be lin
ked to high use of antibiotics, geographical factors or ethnicity. High rat
es of antibiotic resistance reflect heavy use of antibiotics by general pra
ctitioners.