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Published on: September 11, 2020
Post-Vaccination Surveillance of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in Ghana
Fleischer C N Kotey1, Reuben E Arhin1,2, Nicholas T K D Dayie1
1Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Korle Bu, Accra P.O. Box KB 4236, Ghana.
Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 26, 2026
Summary
Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) remains a concern in Ghana post-vaccination. Serotype distribution and antibiotic resistance highlight the need for ongoing surveillance and adaptive strategies to control IPD.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Streptococcus pneumoniae causes significant invasive diseases, particularly in children.
- Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) are widely used but breakthrough diseases and serotype shifts occur.
- Comprehensive post-vaccination surveillance data for pneumococcus are lacking in many sub-Saharan African countries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the post-vaccination epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in Ghana.
- To determine the prevalence, serotype distribution, and antibiotic resistance patterns of IPD in Ghana.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 14,597 patients across multiple hospitals and laboratories in Ghana.
- Collection and culture of cerebrospinal fluid and blood specimens from patients with meningitis, pneumonia, and bloodstream infections.
- Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and serotyping of S. pneumoniae isolates using latex agglutination and Quellung reaction.
Main Results:
- The overall prevalence of IPD was 0.66%, with higher rates in meningitis cases (2.45%).
- Serotype 1 was predominant (58.76%), with vaccine serotypes comprising 81.44% of isolates.
- High antimicrobial resistance was observed against sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim (52%), ampicillin (51%), and penicillin (46%), with a 42.3% multidrug resistance proportion.
Conclusions:
- Vaccine-type IPD remains a significant public health issue in Ghana, even after vaccination.
- Observed serotype distribution and antimicrobial resistance necessitate sustained surveillance.
- Adaptive vaccination policies and rigorous antibiotic stewardship are crucial for mitigating the IPD burden.
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