Pneumococcal infections in the city of São Paulo: EUREQA project - a molecular epidemiology study

Abstract

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common etiologic agent of community acquired respirator infections and meningitis. In this study we intend to determine the prevalence serotypes of S. pneumoniae isolated at Hospital Sao Paulo and Fleury Medicina e Saúde according to geographical distribution in the Sao Paulo city, the penicillin and ceftriaxone resistance prevalence and geographical distribution, and to investigate the genetic diversity and patterns of dissemination in the Sao Paulo city. This study will be retrospective, period of January 2002 to December 2006, including 100 isolates of S. pneumoniae from both centers. Phenotypic microbiological and molecular techniques will be carried out including PFGE (Pulsed Field Gel Eletrophoresis), PCR and real-time capsular typing and MLST typing. Surveillance studies of S. pneumoniae isolates, including geoprocessing methodology, are important for an appropriated monitoring of the circulating serotypes and antimicrobial resistance in a determined geographic area. (AU)