866 Paediatric Stool Testing Practices in Ireland and Potential Influence on Epidemiology of Rotavirus Gastroenterisis (RVGE) and Rotavirus Immunisation

Abstract

method according to CA-SFM guidelines. Beta-lactamase production was analyzed using cefinase test. MIC of beta-lactams was determined by E-test method (AB BIODISK). During the study period we have collected 486 cases of bacterial meningitis: 157 cases of S. pneumoniae (32.3%), 118 of N. meningitidis (24.3%), and 99 of H. influenzae (20.4%). Most cases (66.5%) occurred in children under 3 years. The most frequent serotype among S. pneumoniae was 14 (27.2%) followed by 23F (9%). The majority of N meningitidis strains belonged to serogroup B (72.9%) and 88.8% of H. influenzae strains to serotype b. Before Hib conjugate vaccine introduction (2000-2002), H. influenzae were the first species responsible for meningitis (40%). During vaccine generalisation (2003-2005) we noted a decrease in Hib meningitis. At the beginning of 2006, Hib vaccination was stopped and we observed an increase of Hib meningitis cases. Antimicrobial susceptibility studies show that 43.6% and 60% respectively of S. pneumoniae and N. meningitidis strains had reduced susceptibility to penicillin. Among H. influenzae 47.3% was betalactamase producing. The data presented in this study demonstrate that S. pneumoniae is the most frequent in bacterial meningitis in children and that beta-lactams resistance is frequent in our hospital.