Carriage rates, circulating serotypes and antibiotic resistance among <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> in healthy infants in Yei, South Sudan

Abstract

The carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae, serotypes, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and disease development are poorly understood in Yei. Availability of affordable antibiotics over the counter, lack of laboratory infrastructure and high rates of penicillin resistance have the potential to aggravate rates of childhood mortality associated with Streptococcus pneumoniae. There is an urgent need to strengthen microbiological and public health services.