Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important cause of community acquired infections, particularly pneumonia, acute otitis media, sinusitis and exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. Together with Haemophilus influenzae, it is an important cause of childhood meningitis. It is also a major cause of bacterial meningitis among adults. The emergence of Streptococcus pneumoniae resistant to penicillin and other antibiotics in recent years has complicated the management of pneumococcal infections world-wide'. In some areas, penicillin resistant strains have become the predominant pneumococcal isolates2. Multiply resistant strains and those resistant to second and third generation cephalosporins are also increasingly reported'. Treatment of meningitis and acute otitis media caused by such strains is particularly problematic. (Copied from article).