Clinical Characteristics, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Outcomes of Patients with Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China, 2013-2021

Objectives. This study aimed to analyze the clinical features, antibiotic susceptibility profiles, and outcomes of patients with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) at a hospital in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, to provide the basis for improving the clinical treatment effect. Methods. Patients with IPD were retrospectively collected from 2013 to 2021. Clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, antimicrobial susceptibility, antibiotic treatment, and outcomes of the disease were analyzed. Results. In this study, we identified 127 IPD cases, of whom 49 (38.6%) had meningitis and 78 (61.4%) had bacteremia. The median ages of pediatric cases and adult cases were 2 years (IQR: 0-5) and 52.5 years (IQR: 35-62), respectively. There were 27 and 45 males in the pediatric and adult groups, and no significant gender difference in the different age groups (p=0.584) was found. Of 75 cases with underlying diseases, pneumonia (11%), malignancy (11%), hypertension (9.4%), and hepatic cirrhosis (7.9%) were the most common. The incidence of underlying diseases was even higher in the adult group (67.1%) than in the pediatric group (47.1%) (p=0.028). The frequency of fever, cough, and seizures was significantly higher in the pediatric group than in the adult group, with p-values of 0.004, 0.004, and 0.001, respectively. The percentage of neutrophils in the blood was significantly higher in the adult cases than in the pediatric cases (p < 0.001). Furthermore, there was a significantly higher WBC count (p < 0.001), percentage of neutrophils (p=0.012), and protein level (p=0.019) in the CSF samples in the adult patients compared to pediatric patients. The susceptibility rates of S. pneumoniae isolates to vancomycin, linezolid, and levofloxacin were 100%. The susceptibility rates of penicillin were 98.7% and 34.1% in bacteremia and meningitis patients, respectively. Most isolates were resistant to erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline, and azithromycin. The most common antibiotic treatment was beta-lactams. Seven (5.5%) patients died during hospitalization, and 38 (29.9%) patients' health deteriorated. Conclusion. These results may provide a reference basis for the diagnosis and empiric treatment of IPD in the region.