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Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology, May 2001, p. 556-559, Vol. 8, No. 3
1071-412X/01/$04.00+0   DOI: 10.1128/CDLI.8.3.556-559.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Influence of Patient Age on Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotypes Causing Invasive Disease

Jaime Inostroza,1 Ana Maria Vinet,1 Gloria Retamal,1 Pedro Lorca,1 Gonzalo Ossa,1 Richard R. Facklam,2 and Ricardo U. Sorensen3,*

Immunology Laboratory and Departments of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, Hospital Regional de Temuco, and the Departments of Basic Sciences, Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco, Chile1; Laboratory Section, Childhood and Respiratory Disease Branch, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia2; and Department of Pediatrics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana3

Received 23 June 2000/Returned for modification 8 August 2000/Accepted 15 February 2001

All clinical S. pneumoniae specimens isolated from patients with invasive or sterile-site infections admitted to one regional general hospital in southern Chile were collected during a 5-year period (February 1994 to September 1999). A total of 247 strains belonging to 50 serotypes were isolated in this survey: 69 in patients under 5 years of age, 129 in patients 5 to 64 years old, and 49 from patients 65 years and older. Eight serotypes were identified in all age groups, while all other serotypes were found exclusively in one age group or in patients over 4 years of age. Serotype 3 was never found in patients under 5 years old, and serotype 14 was not found in patients >64 years of age. There was no difference in the serotypes causing infection in each one of the 5 years of the survey. Our results suggest that both bacterial virulence factors and host factors play an important role in the selection of S. pneumoniae serotypes causing invasive infection. Possible host factors include age-related differences in the immune response. Comparative studies with other areas of the world may help to further understanding of our observations in southern Chile.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Pediatrics-LSUHSC, 1542 Tulane Ave., Box T8-1, New Orleans, LA 70112-2822. Phone: (504) 568-2578. Fax: (504) 568-7598. E-mail: rsoren{at}lsuhsc.edu.

Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology, May 2001, p. 556-559, Vol. 8, No. 3
1071-412X/01/$04.00+0   DOI: 10.1128/CDLI.8.3.556-559.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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