Carriage of upper respiratory tract pathogens in rural communities of Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo

Abstract Introduction Pneumonia is a leading cause of death in Malaysia. Whilst many studies have reported the aetiology pneumonia Western countries, epidemiology Malaysia remains poorly understood. As carriage prerequisite for disease, we sought to improve our understanding and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) respiratory tract pathogens The rural communities Sarawak are an understudied part Malaysian population were focus this study, allowing us gain better bacterial population. Methods A population-based survey was undertaken participants all ages from Sarawak, Nasopharyngeal, nasal, mouth oropharyngeal swabs taken. Bacteria isolated each swab identified by culture-based methods susceptibility testing conducted disk diffusion or E test. Results 140 recruited five communities. Klebsiella pneumoniae most commonly (30.0%), followed Staphylococcus aureus (20.7%), Streptococcus (10.7%), Haemophilus influenzae (9.3%), Moraxella catarrhalis (6.4%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6.4%) Neisseria meningitidis (5.0%). Of 21 S. isolated, 33.3 14.3% serotypes included 13 valent PCV (PCV13) 10 (PCV10) respectively. 33.8% species resistant at least one antibiotic, however except susceptible type antibiotic. Conclusion To knowledge, first study East We provide valuable timely data regarding AMR associated with pneumonia. Further surveillance necessary monitor changes prevalence upper emergence AMR, particularly as added National Immunisation Programme (NIP).