Proportion of invasive pneumococcal infections in german children preventable by pneumococcal conjugate vaccines

The incidence and serotype distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae as a ca use of invasive diseases are unknown with regard to most European countries . From January 1997 through December 1998, population-based nationwide pros pective surveillance was undertaken for invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in children in Germany, based on monthly independent reports from all pedi atric hospitals and from clinical microbiology laboratories. On the basis o f 896 reported IPD cases (including 404 with meningitis), the incidences pe r 10(5) children in different age groups were as follows: children aged <1 year, 18.9 (9.7 for meningitis); children aged <2 years, 16.0 (7.2 for meni ngitis); for children aged <5 years, 8.9 (3.9 for meningitis); and for chil dren aged <16 years, 3.2 (1.4 for meningitis). The proportions of cases inv olving strains (304 serotyped) included in conjugate vaccines were as follo ws: for the 7-valent vaccine, 52%; for the 9-valent, 62%; and for the 11-va lent, 71%, None of the isolates were resistant to penicillin or cefotaxime, Although the rate for meningitis is similar, other manifestations of IPD a re less commonly diagnosed in Germany than in other countries. The serotype distribution only partially matched that used in the recent development of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.