Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Investigating the Effects of Probiotics on Pneumococcal Colonization Using an In Vitro Adherence Assay
09:20

Investigating the Effects of Probiotics on Pneumococcal Colonization Using an In Vitro Adherence Assay

Published on: April 28, 2014

The Evolving Epidemiology of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in Australian Children: A Multicentre Retrospective

Phoebe C M Williams1,2,3,4, Annaleise Howard Jones1,5, Robert Duguid2

  • 1Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Open Forum Infectious Diseases
|June 24, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Nonpharmaceutical interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic altered invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in Australian children. Postpandemic, IPD cases showed increased meningitis and viral infections, suggesting a need for updated immunization strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology
  • Vaccinology

Background:

  • Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) remains a significant public health concern in Australia despite high pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) coverage.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic and associated nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) potentially impacted IPD epidemiology and clinical presentation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the effect of NPIs on the clinical characteristics of IPD in Australian children.
  • To compare IPD cases before and after the implementation of COVID-19 mitigation strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic evaluation of clinical and microbiological data of pediatric IPD cases (<18 years).
  • Comparison of cases from two periods: 2017-2018 (prepandemic) and 2021-2022 (postpandemic).
  • Analysis of case counts and proportions to identify changes in clinical presentations.

Main Results:

  • A total of 220 IPD cases were identified; 116 prepandemic and 104 postpandemic.
  • Serotype 3 was the most frequent causative agent (26%).
  • Postpandemic cases exhibited a higher incidence of meningitis (13.5% vs 3.4%) and viral co-infections (63.8% vs 36.2%), with viral co-infections linked to prolonged fevers.

Conclusions:

  • Changes in respiratory viral transmission patterns influence IPD epidemiology and clinical outcomes.
  • Consideration of newer PCVs and immunization programs targeting associated viral pathogens may help reduce the burden of pediatric IPD.
Abstract

Keywords:
child healthinvasive pneumococcal diseasepneumococcuspneumoniaviral co-infection

More Related Videos

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria11:32

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria

Published on: February 23, 2014

Capsular Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae by Latex Agglutination09:11

Capsular Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae by Latex Agglutination

Published on: September 25, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Pneumonia I: Introduction01:29

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an infection of the lower respiratory tract that leads to inflammation of the lung parenchyma, often resulting in the accumulation of inflammatory exudate in the alveoli and airways. Unlike the watery, low-protein fluid exudate in pulmonary edema, the exudate in this case is a thick fluid rich in immune cells, proteins, and debris produced during infection and inflammation.This impairs gas exchange and can lead to consolidation of lung tissue. The infection may be caused by a...
Pneumonia I: Introduction01:30

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection that targets the lungs, specifically the alveoli. These tiny air sacs, essential for oxygen exchange, become engorged with pus and fluid, severely hindering breathing, decreasing oxygen absorption, and causing significant pain and discomfort during respiration.
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...
Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment01:30

Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment

Pneumonia poses the potential for numerous complications that warrant consideration. These complications include the following:
Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention01:30

Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention

Nursing management of pneumonia involves promoting airway patency, facilitating rest and conserving energy, encouraging fluid intake, maintaining nutrition, and educating patients.
The nurse must practice strict medical asepsis and adhere to infection control guidelines to minimize healthcare-associated infections.
Enhance airway patency
Position the patient correctly to facilitate drainage of the affected lung segments. Manual or mechanical percussion and vibration can also be employed.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease01:29

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...
Atypical Pneumonia01:14

Atypical Pneumonia

Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease include...