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Epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal infections in children in Finland
1Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland.
Insights
Invasive pneumococcal infections are common in Finnish children, particularly those under five. A targeted vaccine could prevent up to 70% of these serious infections.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Streptococcus pneumoniae causes significant invasive infections in children.
- Understanding infection characteristics is crucial for developing effective vaccination strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal infections in children in Finland.
- To provide data to inform the development of Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccination programs.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, nationwide, laboratory-based surveillance of invasive pneumococcal infections in children (0-15 years) from 1985-1989.
- Data collected from all Finnish microbiologic laboratories and pediatric wards.
- Infections confirmed by isolation of Streptococcus pneumoniae from blood, cerebrospinal fluid, or deep aspirates.
Main Results:
- 452 invasive pneumococcal infections were diagnosed.
- Incidence rates were 8.9/100,000 children (<16 years), 24.2/100,000 (<5 years), and 45.3/100,000 (<2 years).
- Most common clinical presentations included bacteremia without focus (310), pneumonia (66), and meningitis (51).
- Serotypes 14, 6, 19, 7, 18, and 23 accounted for 78% of infections.
Conclusions:
- Streptococcus pneumoniae is a frequent cause of invasive infections in Finnish children.
- A pneumococcal conjugate vaccine targeting the six most prevalent serotypes could potentially prevent up to 70% of invasive infections in children if administered during infancy.
Objective:
To study the epidemiologic characteristics of invasive infections in children caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae to provide background data for vaccination programs.
Design:
A nationwide laboratory-based prospective surveillance of all invasive pneumococcal infections in children during 1985 through 1989.
Setting:
A network of all microbiologic laboratories and pediatric wards in Finland.
Patients:
Children aged 0 to 15 years who were admitted to a hospital with S pneumoniae isolated from blood, cerebrospinal fluid, or deep aspirate sample.
Results:
Four hundred fifty-two invasive pneumococcal infections were diagnosed in 1985 through 1989. The annual incidence rate was 8.9 per 100,000 children less than 16 years of age (24.2 per 100,000 among children less than 5 years of age and 45.3 per 100,000 among those less than 2 years of age). The most common clinical entities were bacteremia without focus (310 cases), pneumonia (66 cases), and meningitis (51 cases), with other focal infections seen in 25 cases. The pneumococcal groups/types 14, 6, 19, 7, 18, and 23 comprised 78% of all invasive infections.
Conclusions:
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common cause of invasive infections in children in Finland. A pneumococcal conjugate vaccine containing the six most common groups/types could prevent up to 70% of invasive pneumococcal infections of children in Finland if fully protective in infancy.
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