OBJECTIVE: To investigate the carrier rate of streptococcus pneumoniae and the sensitivity to penicillin in children aged 2～6 in two kindergartens in Guangzhou City. METHODS: Pharyngo nasoparyngeal swab specimen were collected from 220 healthy children in two kindergartens in Guangzhou city. The swab was spread on the blood disk, cultured at 35℃, 5% CO2 for 24 h and identified by Optochin paper. The minimal inhibitory concentration of penicillin was measured by the agar dilution method. The positive rates of bacteria carrier were compared by using chi square test. RESULTS: Fifty three strains of streptococcus pneumoniae were isolated among 220 children (a carrier rate of 24.1%), 49 strains were sensitive to penicillin (a susceptibility rate of 92.5%) and 4 strains were moderately resistant to penicillin (a resistance rate of 7.5%). The positive rates were associated with age groups, especially the 2～4 years groups. The carrier rates of 2～3 years and ～4 years groups were 47.1% and 43.5% respectively, higher than those of ～5 years with 21.4% and ～6 years with 17.1%(χ2=12.216, P<0.01). The isolation rates were different in various classes and bacterial carriers usually gathered in the same class. CONCLUSIONS: Healthy children aged 2～6 have a high carrier rate of streptococcus pneumoniae. The resistant rate to penicillin is lower (7.5%). Children with a high carrier rate of streptococus pneumoniae must be immunized to avoid cross infection.