RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The widespread use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) has changed the epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in children globally. METHODS: Multicentre prospective audit of IPD episodes from five paediatric hospitals in Australia over 5.5 years between 2016 and June 2021. Children (<18 years) with Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from a sterile site were included. RESULTS: There were 377 IPD episodes in 375 children: 338 (90%) had received ≥3 PCV doses; 42 (11%) had IPD risk factors. The most common presentations were complicated pneumonia (254, 67%), bacteraemia (65, 17%) and meningitis (29, 8%). Five (1%) children died.Serotype information was available for 230 (61%) episodes; 140 (61%) were 13vPCV vaccine serotypes (VTs). The majority (85%) of episodes of complicated pneumonia were due to a VT; predominantly 3, 19A, 19F. Children with risk factors were more likely to present with bacteraemia ± sepsis (42% vs 12%) and to have a non-vaccine serotype (NVT) (74% vs 32%). Resistance to ceftriaxone (meningitis cut-off) occurred in 17% of 23B isolates (n=12) and accounted for 22% (5/23) of meningitis cases. CONCLUSIONS: Complicated pneumonia is the most common IPD presentation. NVTs account for the majority of bacteraemia and meningitis episodes. High rates of ceftriaxone resistance for NVT 23B support the addition of vancomycin for empiric treatment of suspected meningitis.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: In settings with universal conjugate pneumococcal vaccination, invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) can be a marker of an underlying inborn error of immunity. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and characterize the types of immunodeficiencies in children presenting with IPD. METHODS: Multicenter prospective audit following the introduction of routinely recommended immunological screening in children presenting with IPD. The minimum immunological evaluation comprised a full blood examination and film, serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA and IgM), complement levels and function. Included participants were children in whom Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from a normally sterile site (cerebrospinal fluid, pleura, peritoneum and synovium). If isolated from blood, features of sepsis needed to be present. Children with predisposing factors for IPD (nephrotic syndrome, anatomical defect or malignancy) were excluded. RESULTS: Overall, there were 379 episodes of IPD of which 313 (83%) were eligible for inclusion and 143/313 (46%) had an immunologic evaluation. Of these, 17/143 (12%) were diagnosed with a clinically significant abnormality: hypogammaglobulinemia (n = 4), IgA deficiency (n = 3), common variable immunodeficiency (n = 2), asplenia (n = 2), specific antibody deficiency (n = 2), incontinentia pigmenti with immunologic dysfunction (n = 1), alternative complement deficiency (n = 1), complement factor H deficiency (n = 1) and congenital disorder of glycosylation (n = 1). The number needed to investigate to identify 1 child presenting with IPD with an immunologic abnormality was 7 for children under 2 years and 9 for those 2 years old and over. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the routine immune evaluation of children presenting with IPD of any age, with consideration of referral to a pediatric immunologist.