Antimicrobial Resistance Of Streptococcus Pneumoniae Among Preschool-age Children
Velma Rebic1, Edna Jasarevic2, Marina Karan2, Iman Rebic3, Snijezana Hasanbegovic4, Edna Supur5, Sanela Teskeredzic6, Mufida Aljicevic1
1 Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
2 Health Centre of Brcko “Health Center Brcko”, Brcko District, Bosnia and Herzegovina
3 Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
4 Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Pediatric Clinic, Clinical Center University Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
5 Health Centre of Canton Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
6 Public Institution Hospital Travnik, Travnik, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Corresponding Author: Velma Rebic MD, PhD. Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo; E-mail: velma.rebic@mf.unsa.ba; Phone: +387 333 226-478; ORCID ID: 0000-0001-9966-0030
Cite this article: Rebic V, Jasarevic E, Karan M, Rebic I, Hasanbegovic S, Supur E, et al. Antimicrobial Resistance
of Streptococcus Pneumoniae Among Preschool-Age Children. Sar Med J. 2024; 2(1): Online ahead of print. 
10.70119/0026-25
Pages: -/ Published online: 6 February 2025
Original submission: 20 November 2024; Revised submission:15 January 2025; Accepted: 03 February 2025
Abstract
Introduction. This research aimed to investigate the prevalence of S. pneumonia isolates among preschool-age children and analyze the susceptibility and resistance patterns of these isolates to investigated antimicrobial drugs before and after the onset of the Coronavirus disease
2019 (COVID-19).
Methods. The data for this study were gathered retrospectively over a two-year period (1 January 2018 – 31 December 2018 and 1 January 2022 – 31 December 2022) at the Public Health Institution “Health Center Brcko”, Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the observed period, a total of 2287 swabs were performed.
Results. Among the total 214 clinical samples with isolated S. pneumoniae, 68% belonged to male patients. 47% of those samples were collected within the age group of 0-2 years. Multiresistance was identified in 92 isolates. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, S. pneumoniae isolates exhibited
the highest sensitivity to cefuroxime and ceftriaxone, (99.1%), while after the Covid-19 pandemic, the highest sensitivity was demonstrated to norfloxacin (99.0%).
Conclusion. It is essential to use antibiotics rationally to prevent the further increase of resistance, especially multidrug resistance, in S. pneumoniae.
Keywords: antimicrobial resistance, Streptococcus pneumoniae, children.
