Nationwide survey of Streptococcus pneumoniae drug resistance in the pediatric field in Japan

Background Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major causative pathogen of pneumonia in children. The Drug‐Resistant Pathogen Surveillance Group in Pediatric Infectious Disease conducted a nationwide surveillance of S. pneumoniae in 2000–2001, 2004, 2007, 2010 and 2012, and investigated changes in drug resistance of S. pneumoniae. Methods All strains of S. pneumoniae were isolated from clinical specimens collected from pediatric patients. The minimun inhibitory concentration was measured and the strains were classified according to the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute criteria. The isolation rates of penicillin‐intermediate resistant S. pneumoniae (PISP) and penicillin‐resistant S. pneumoniae (PRSP) were compared based on seven patient factors. Logistic regression analysis was also performed. Results The sum of the isolation rates for PISP and PRSP for each period was 64.6%, 67.0%, 56.2%, 76.9% and 49.5%, respectively. Among the patient factors, age category 1 (