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The Burden of Streptococcus Pneumoniae-Related Admissions in Pediatric Population: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Pamela Di Giovanni1, Giuseppe Di Martino1,2, Mariarosaria Petrangelo3

  • 1Department of Medicine and Ageing Sciences "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara Chieti Italy.

Health Science Reports
|July 17, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Pneumococcal disease significantly impacts children in Abruzzo, Italy. Hospitalizations for pneumonia decreased then rose, while meningitis initially increased before declining, highlighting the need for vaccination and serotype monitoring.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) commonly colonizes the respiratory tract, particularly in children.
  • Pneumococcus causes various infections, including otitis media, sinusitis, pneumonia, and invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) like meningitis and bacteremia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the burden and incidence of Streptococcus pneumoniae hospitalizations in children in Abruzzo, Italy.
  • To analyze trends in pediatric pneumococcal disease hospitalizations from 2018 to 2023.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study design utilizing hospital discharge records from 2018-2023.
  • Direct standardization of hospitalization rates by age and gender according to the Abruzzo regional population.
  • Analysis of annual trends and average annual percent change (AAPC) for specific pneumococcal infections.

Main Results:

  • Pneumonia hospitalization rates significantly decreased from 2018-2021 (APC -14.6%), then substantially increased from 2021-2023 (APC 74.2%).
  • Meningitis hospitalizations showed an increasing trend from 2018-2020 (AAPC 6.1%), followed by a decline in 2021-2022.
  • Bacteremia hospitalization rates remained stable throughout the study period.

Conclusions:

  • Pneumococcal disease imposes a significant burden on the pediatric population and healthcare system in Abruzzo.
  • Findings underscore the critical importance of enhancing newborn vaccination programs.
  • Continuous monitoring of circulating pneumococcal serotypes is essential for effective disease prevention and control.
Abstract

Keywords:
ItalyStreptococcus pneumoniaeepidemiologypublic health

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