Factors Associated with Carriage of Penicillin-Resistant Streptococcus Pneumoniae Among Vietnamese Children: A Rural Urban Divide (Report‪)‬

INTRODUCTION Streptococcus pneumoniae is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in both developed and developing countries, resulting in an estimated 3-5 million deaths per year principally in infants and children (1). Although empirical therapy can be effective in reducing the public-health burden of pneumococcal disease, the global spread of antibiotic-resistant S. pneumoniae in the last 15 years has become a significant threat to the management of such infections (2). This is especially true in developing countries, where limited resources hinder the availability and affordability of alternative treatments for serious pneumococcal infections.