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Updated: May 13, 2025
Constructing Mutants in Serotype 1 Streptococcus pneumoniae strain 519/43
Published on: September 11, 2020
Serotype dynamics of Streptococcus pneumoniae in some countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
Sergey V Sidorenko1, Wolfgang Rennert2, Konstantin V Zhdanov1
1Pediatric Research and Clinical Center for Infectious Diseases, North-Western State Medical University named after I. I. Mechnikov, Kirochnaya Ulitsa, 41, St Petersburg 191015, Russia.
Insights
Pneumococcal vaccination effectiveness varies across Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Declining PCV13 coverage in Russia contrasts with higher prevalence in Kazakhstan and Belarus, highlighting the need for updated vaccines against emerging pneumococcal serotypes.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Epidemiology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Pneumococcal disease remains a significant global health burden, particularly in young children.
- Understanding the circulating Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes is crucial for effective vaccine strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the serotype composition of Streptococcus pneumoniae in children under five in Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan.
- To evaluate the impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV13) on serotype prevalence in these regions.
Main Methods:
- Serotype surveillance of Streptococcus pneumoniae in children under five years of age.
- Analysis of serotype distribution in healthy children and those with respiratory infections.
- Comparison of serotype prevalence before and after the introduction of PCV13 vaccination.
Main Results:
- In the Russian Federation, PCV13 coverage decreased from 66-90% pre-vaccination to 23.2-35.7% in 2020-2023.
- Kazakhstan showed higher vaccine-related serotype prevalence (51.5-58.6%) than Russia, despite similar vaccination programs.
- In Belarus, without universal vaccination, PCV13 covered 86.4% of serotypes. Serotypes 19F, 3, 19A, and 14 were predominant in acute otitis media cases.
Conclusions:
- Significant shifts in pneumococcal serotype composition are occurring in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
- Current PCV13 vaccines show declining effectiveness in some regions, necessitating updated vaccine formulations.
- Expanding vaccine serotype targets is essential to address prevalent and emerging non-vaccine strains.
Abstract:
The burden of pneumococcal disease remains a global challenge. The purpose of this work was to assess the serotype composition of S. pneumoniae circulating among children under 5 years of age in Eastern European (the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus) and Central Asian (the Republic of Kazakhstan) countries which are characterized by close cultural and economic ties. The most pronounced changes were noted in the Russian Federation. In the pre-vaccination period (before 2015) PCV13 covered 66 % - 90 % of prevalent serotypes. In 2016-2018 coverage decreased to 59.2 %. During this study period (2020-2023) PCV 13 related serotypes in healthy children and those with respiratory infections dropped further to 23.2 % and 35.7 %, respectively. In Kazakhstan, vaccine-related serotypes among healthy children and children with RTI were more prevalent than in Russia (51.5-58.6 % vs 23.2-35.7 %) despite both countries having introduced pneumococcal vaccination at the same time, and both countries reporting vaccination rates above 90 % in children under 5 years of age. In the Republic of Belarus, in the absence of a universal vaccination program, PCV13 covers 86.4 % of serotypes. Serotypes 19F (31 %), 3 (16.2 %), 19 A (10.3 %), and 14 (10 %) predominate among S. pneumoniae causing acute otitis media in children. Expanding the serotype/serogroup composition of new vaccines may provide protection against potentially invasive non-vaccine strains in the future.
