Introducction: Pneumococcus is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children in developing countries. Over the last few years, pneumococcal strains resistant to penicillin and other antibiotics commonly used in pediatrics have emerged. There are few recent local studies that describe this problem.Objectives: The main purpose of the study was to determine the pneumococcal resistance rates in healthy nasopharyngeal carriers 2 to 12 months of age, who attended the outpatient clinic for a routine well child and/ or vaccination visit at Cayetano Heredia, Edgardo Rebagliati, San Bartolomé Hospitals and Instituto Nacional de Salud del Niño in Lima-Peru.Methods: Nasopharyngeal samples were obtained from 400 children (November 2007-June 2008) for S. pneumoniae culture and determination of the susceptibility to penicillin and other antibiotics by disk diffusion.Results:&nbs...

Introducction: Pneumococcus is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children in developing countries. Over the last few years, pneumococcal strains resistant to penicillin and other antibiotics commonly used in pediatrics have emerged. There are few recent local studies that describe this problem.Objectives: The main purpose of the study was to determine the pneumococcal resistance rates in healthy nasopharyngeal carriers 2 to 12 months of age, who attended the outpatient clinic for a routine well child and/ or vaccination visit at Cayetano Heredia, Edgardo Rebagliati, San Bartolomé Hospitals and Instituto Nacional de Salud del Niño in Lima-Peru.Methods: Nasopharyngeal samples were obtained from 400 children (November 2007-June 2008) for S. pneumoniae culture and determination of the susceptibility to penicillin and other antibiotics by disk diffusion.Results:&nbs...