Unravelling the ecology of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the nasopharynx.

To study the dynamics and diversity of pneumococcal carriage and antibiotic resistance, a more thorough and systematic approach has been employed compared with routine surveillance of serotype and anti-biotic resistance. Up to ten pneumococcal isolates from pernasal (nose) and oropharyngeal (throat) sites are isolated and characterised. Our carriage studies have revealed a diverse community of pneumococci with multiple strains colonising the nasopharynx of children.