The Impact of Active Intervention on the Spread of Penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in Swedish Day-care Centres

Abstract

Policies for handling cases of penicillin-non-susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae (PNSP) in day-care groups vary between different counties in Sweden. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological effect of excluding PNSP-carriers from children's day-care centres (DCC). We followed the incidence in 14 DCC groups with ongoing PNSP-spread, by repeated group screens until no further cases could be identified. All identified carriers were excluded from DCC attendance in study area A (Skåne region) while they remained in the group in study area B (Göteborg and Örebro), according to local policies. The intervention effect was evaluated by comparing the number of additional cases after the baseline screen (start of the intervention period) between the 2 study areas. All PNSP-isolates were characterized by resistance pattern, serotype and pulse-field gel electrophoresis. The relative risk for children in DCCs without active intervention was 6.4 (95% CI: 2.0–20.7). Each prevented case in area A can be estimated to have demanded the exclusion of 2 other children from day care for approximately 4 weeks each.

The total cost-benefit outcome of this action has to be seen in the light of the local situation with regard to the population prevalence and the distribution of other risk factors.