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Published on: February 23, 2014
Hospitalization rates of complicated pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia is increasing in Tuscan children
F Bonsignori1, E Chiappini1, E Orlandini1
1Department of Sciences for Woman and Childs Health, Anna Meyer Childrens University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
Insights
Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) hospitalization rates remained stable, but pneumococcal CAP and complicated CAP increased significantly in children. These findings support the introduction of the PCV13 vaccine for broader protection against pneumococcal serotypes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a significant cause of pediatric hospitalization.
- Understanding epidemiological trends is crucial for public health interventions, including vaccination strategies.
- Previous vaccination efforts may not cover all prevalent pneumococcal serotypes causing CAP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze epidemiological data on community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and complicated CAP in a partially vaccinated pediatric population.
- To assess trends in hospitalization rates for CAP and pneumococcal CAP over a decade.
- To provide evidence supporting the need for enhanced pneumococcal vaccination.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of hospitalization data for CAP in Tuscan children from 1999 to 2009.
- Inclusion of 5,450 pediatric CAP cases.
- Age-stratified analysis of hospitalization rates for overall CAP, pneumococcal CAP, complicated CAP, and complicated pneumococcal CAP.
Main Results:
- Overall annual CAP hospitalization rates showed no significant change.
- Significant increases observed in hospitalization rates for pneumococcal CAP, particularly in children under 5 years old.
- Marked rise in hospitalization rates for complicated CAP and complicated pneumococcal CAP between 1999 and 2009.
Conclusions:
- Epidemiological data highlight a growing burden of pneumococcal and complicated CAP in children.
- The increasing trends underscore the importance of vaccination in preventing severe pneumococcal disease.
- Findings support the implementation of the PCV13 vaccine to broaden protection against key pneumococcal serotypes.
Abstract:
To provide epidemiological data on community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and complicated CAP, a retrospective study was conducted on a partially vaccinated paediatric population. Data from children hospitalized for CAP in Tuscan hospitals between January 1st, 1999 and December 31st, 2009 were analysed. A total of 5,450 children with CAP were hospitalized. Annual hospitalization rates for CAP did not change significantly over the study period (X2 for trend= 0.652; p=0.419). The total annual hospitalization rate for pneumococcal CAP varied according to age (28.04 per 100,000 children aged less than 5 years, 10.06 per 100,000 children aged 6-12 years and 0.98 per 100,000 children aged greater than13years). Hospitalization rates for pneumococcal CAP increased from12.84 (95 percent CI:7.35-18.34) in 2001 to 45.4 (95 percent CI:35.93-54.90) per 100,000 children aged less than 5 years in 2009 (p less than 0.0001). In addition, a significant increase of hospitalization rates for complicated CAP (from 6.07 in 1999 to 13.66 in 2009 per 100,000 children; P less than 0.0001) and pneumococcal complicated CAP (from 0.19 in 1999 to 3.41 in 2009 per 100,000 children) over the study period were highlighted. Our epidemiological data confirm the decision to introduce the PCV13 vaccine, to satisfy the need to prevent a wider group of pneumococcal serotypes.
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