Serotype distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated from blood and cerebrospinal fluid in Sweden

215 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from blood or cerebrospinal fluid at 3 different laboratories in Sweden were serotyped by coagglutination and subtyped by the capsular reaction test. 78% of the strains belonged to serotypes which are included in or completely cross-immunogenic with serotypes included in the 14-valent vaccine while serotypes included in the 23-valent vaccine covered 89% of the isolates. Types 7F, 14 and 33F, which cannot be detected by counterimmunoelectrophoresis constituted 19% of all strains.