Serotype distribution and antimicrobial susceptibilities of nasopharyngeal isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae from healthy children in the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine era

Highlights • We conducted a cross-sectional study on nasopharyngeal isolates in healthy children in the post-PCV7, initial-PCV13 era. • The most common carriage isolates, among all children, irrespective of vaccination status, were 6C, 19A and 23A. • A decrease in nasopharyngeal colonization of the 6 additional PCV13 serotypes was observed in children appropriately vaccinated for age with PCV13. • Serotype 6C was the most common drug-resistant serotype.