This study evaluated the incidence, serotype distribution, and antimicrobial susceptibility of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in Saudi Arabian children. This multicenter, prospective, clinical surveillance study included children under 5years of age, residents of one of the seven study health areas, who were brought to a study hospital with suspicion of IPD. Bacterial isolates from sterile site samples, collected less than 24h after hospital visit/admission, were identified, serotyped, and tested for antibiotic susceptibility. Between June 2007 and January 2009, 631 episodes of suspected IPD were recorded, and 623 were included in the analysis. One child (0.2%) had previously received one dose of a pneumococcal vaccine. Forty-seven episodes were positive for Streptococcus pneumoniae and three for Haemophilus influenzae. The incidence of confirmed IPD cases was estimated to be 2.5-21.6 per 100,000 children (<5years). Among the 46 S. pneumoniae isolates serotyped and tested for antibiotic susceptibility, the most common serotypes were 5 and 23F (20% each), 6B (17%), and 1 and 14 (11% each). Sixty-three percent of isolates were multidrug-resistant. Vaccination of Saudi Arabian children with expanded-coverage conjugate pneumococcal vaccines containing serotypes 1 and 5 could have a substantial impact to prevent IPD in this population.
BACKGROUNDVertical transmission from mother to infant is the most common mode of transmission of HIV infection in children. Data on pediatric HIV in the Middle East and Gulf region are scarce. We describe the spectrum, characteristics and outcome of HIV infection in Saudi children.METHODSWe collected descriptive data on HIV-infected or exposed children seen at the King Faisal Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC) between 1986 and 2003.RESULTSSixty-three children had proven HIV infection. The source of infection was perinatal transmission in 63.5% of cases and contaminated blood or blood products transfusion in 34.5%. Median age at diagnosis was 6 years. In 42 patients for whom complete records were available, 90% were delivered by spontaneous vaginal delivery and 10% by cesarean delivery. Ninety-three percent of infected infants were breastfed throughout infancy. The complete medical records were available for 66% of children; for the remainder, part of the records could not be retrieved. Thirteen percent had an AIDS-defining opportunistic infection, with disseminated cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection being the most common (37.5%). All cases received antiretroviral therapy starting in 1997. Of those who received highly active antiretroviral therapy, 79% were compliant with treatment and had a sustained virologic response below the detectable level. Seventy-five percent of those diagnosed before 1995 died compared with 7.7% diagnosed later.CONCLUSIONEffective preventive measures, such as antiretroviral prophylaxis, cesarean delivery, and abstention from breastfeeding are not being applied. This could be largely due to lack of knowledge among patients and healthcare providers. Physicians must recognize the signs and symptoms of HIV infection, and have a high index of suspicion so that infected children are diagnosed early and referred to a specialized center for treatment and follow-up.
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