engleski

The epidemiology of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae disease in Croatian children

Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) represents a major medical problem in childhood. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) offer a new possibility in reducing the incidence of pneumococcal infections, especially IPD. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of IPD among Croatian children and to examine the possibilities for the introduction of different PCVs in our population. Prospective collection of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates causing IPD during three years (2001, 2005, 2006) in Croatian children younger than 14 years was done. Epidemiological and clinical parameters, results of serotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility data were evaluated. One hundred strains were collected during the study period. The age of the patients ranged from 30 days to 13 years (median: 25.5 months). 79% of the isolates were from patients younger than 5 years. The incidence of IPD was highest among children younger than 2 years of age (33.9/100 000). Serotypes 14, 6B, 18C and 23F accounted for 67% of all serotypes. The overall coverage rate of PCV7, PCV10 and PCV13 was 72%, 80% and 90%, respectively. Low level resistance to penicillin was found in 20% of the isolates, and high resistance to erythromycin in 33.8%. PCV7 covered 85% of penicillin non-susceptible strains, and 80% of erythromycin resistant strains. The inclusion of a PCV in the immunization programme in Croatia could have a considerable effect on the IPD associated morbidity among childhood population.

Streptococcus pneumoniae; serotypes; invasive disease; pneumococcal conjugate vaccines

nije evidentirano