Susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae causing bacterial meningitis in children in Yaoundé (Cameroon): results of a surveillance site

Background Streptococcus pneumoniae S pneumoniae is the main cause of febrile conditions especially among children below two years and the elderly above years old worldwide In Cameroon the frequency of S pneumoniae as the cause of meningitis varied from to from to The aim of this study was to determine the susceptibility to antibiotics of S pneumoniae involved in meningitis nbsp Methods A cross sectional study was carried out during a four year period from April to March Cerebrospinal fluid CSF was collected by clinicians from children less than years with clinically suspected bacterial meningitis at the Mother and Child Center Chantal Biya Foundation MCC CBF in Yaounde A probable case is a suspected clinical case with the CSF showing at least one of the following elements turbid appearance leukocytes ge mm elevated protein gt mg dl or decreased glucose lt mg dl Cases are confirmed when isolates are identified The identification of S pneumoniae was done by soluble antigens the Binax Now reg test Gram stain catalase test optochin test bile solubility and molecular serotyping The antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out using the disc diffusion method on Mueller Hinton medium with sheep blood and the minimal inhibitory concentration was found using the Etest reg nbsp Results Out of clinically suspected cases of bacterial meningitis were probable and cases were confirmed Most were isolated in children less than one year old and in boys These incidences occurred mainly during the dry season In the confirmed cases were due to S pneumoniae due to Haemophilus influenzae B due to Neisseria meningitis and due to other germs Among the serotyped pneumococci belonged to serotype A B Of viable isolates of S pneumoniae were resistant to penicillin G and to ceftriaxone nbsp Conclusion S pneumoniae is the main etiology of childhood meningitis in Yaounde The frequency of resistance to penicillin G was high while moderate to ceftriaxone