Original broadcast date: January 13, 2008

There were reports in November 2007 about an antibiotic-resistant strain of streptococcal pneumonia that caused a small number of childhood ear infections in Massachusetts and New York State. One case was reported at SickKids in Toronto wherein it progressed to meningitis.

The strain 19A was treated with an antibiotic not typically used in children. Although there is a vaccine against Strep pneumonia, it does not protect against the 19A strain.

• Dr. Dion Neame, Assistant Professor, McMaster  University, Department of Pediatrics and Family Medicine, Chief of Pediatrics at Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington and Medical Advisor of the Meningitis Research Foundation of Canada