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Volume 8, Number 5—May 2002
Research

Nasopharyngeal Carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Healthy Children: Implications for the Use of Heptavalent Pnemococcal Conjugate Vaccine

Paola Marchisio*, Susanna Esposito*, Gian Carlo Schito†, Anna Marchese†, Roberta Cavagna*, Nicola Principi*Comments to Author , and the Hercules Project Collaborative Group
Author affiliations: *University of Milan, Milan, Italy; †University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy

Main Article

Table 1

Characteristics of the 2,799 children tested for nasopharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae, 13 Italian cities, April 15–June15, 2000

Characteristics
No. of children
(% of 2,799)
Male 1,459 (52.1)
Race (white) 2,760 (98.6)
Age
<2 yrs 420 (15.0)
2-5 yrs 1,389 (49.6)
>5 yrs 990 (35.4)
Breast-feeding ≥3 mo. 1,477 (52.8)
Urban residence 2,537 (90.6)
Full-time child-care attendancea 2,571 (91.9)
No. of subjects in each child-care center
<20 927 (33.1)
20-29 1,600 (57.2)
>29 272 (9.7)
No. of siblings
0 752 (26.9)
1 1,450 (51.8)
>2 597 (21.3)
First-born 1,366 (48.8)
Passive smoking 1,320 (47.2)
URTIs in the last 3 mo.b
Rhinitis 1,759 (62.8)
Tonsillitis 636 (22.7)
Laryngitis 501 (17.9)
Acute otitis media 558 (19.9)
Acute sinusitis 174 (6.2)
LRTIs in the last 3 mo.b
Acute bronchitis 579 (20.7)
Pneumonia 167 (5.9)
Antibiotic therapy in the last 3 mo.c
Aminopenicillins 244 (8.7)
Amoxicillin-clavulanate 214 (7.6)
Macrolides 247 (8.8)
Cephalosporins 507 (18.1)
At least one antibiotic 1,032 (36.9)

a5-6 days/week, 6-8 hrs/day.
bOne or more episodes; URTIs = upper respiratory tract infections; LRTIs = lower respiratory tract infections.
c One or more courses.

Main Article

1The Hercules Project Collaborative Group includes: F. Schettini, D. De Mattia (Bari, Italy); G. P. Salvioli, G. Faldella (Bologna, Italy); G. Caramia, E. Ruffini (Ancona, Italy); E. Reali (Cinisello Balsamo, Italy); R. Longhi (Como, Italy); G. Bona (Novara, Italy); A. Guarino, F. Albano (Napoli, Italy); R. Malvicini (Fidenza, Italy); L. Ziino (Palermo, Italy); I. Barberi, T. Corona (Messina, Italy); P. Pusceddu (Cagliari, Italy); T. Meloni (Sassari, Italy); G. Saggese, and M. Migliaccio (Pisa, Italy).

Page created: April 18, 2012
Page updated: April 18, 2012
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The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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