Invasive infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in a tertiary-level childrens hospital before the introduction of the conjugate vaccine: clinical characteristics and serotypes involved. / Invasive infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in a tertiary-level childrens hospital before the introduction of the conjugate vaccine: clinical characteristics and serotypes involved.

ABSTRACT

Invasive pneumococcal diseases are the main cause of morbidity and mortality in children. In the Hospital "Prof. Dr. Juan P. Garrahan", between October 1st , 2008 and September 30th, 2011 all invasive pneumococcal diseases with positive blood cultures were retrospectively studied before the implementation of the universal immunization schedule with the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. A total of 124 patients were identified, and their mean age was 48.3 months (range 1-216). In this population, 58.9