Pneumococcal pneumonia in hospitalized Uruguayan children and potential prevention with different vaccine formulations.

Abstract

To provide information on pneumococcal pneumonias, on their associated serotypes, and to estimate the coverage potentially afforded by antipneumococcal vaccines. A retrospective study (2000 to 2004) was performed of patients with pneumococcal pneumonia aged 0 to 14 years admitted to the National Reference Children's Hospital in Uruguay. Selected clinical data, radiographic interpretation, and microbiologic reports were obtained for analysis. Of 410 enrolled patients, 384 had consolidated pneumonia/pleural effusion and 26 had infiltrates without consolidation: Pneumococcus was identified in blood or in pleural fluid of 387 patients; 21 serotypes were identified. The most frequent serotypes in decreasing order were serotypes 14, 1, 5, 3, 9V, 6B, and 7F. Forty-eight percent of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates were obtained from children younger than 24 months. For this group, the 7-valent vaccine would cover 60%, but a 10-valent vaccine would cover 83.8%. This study provides information on pneumonia of proven S. pneumoniae causes and their associated serotypes, enabling estimation of potential effect of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.