Laboratory-based, 2-year surveillance of pediatric parapneumonic pneumococcal empyema following heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine universal vaccination in madrid

Abstract

Original Studies Laboratory-based, 2-year Surveillance of Pediatric Parapneumonic Pneumococcal Empyema Following Heptavalent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Universal Vaccination in Madrid Picazo, Juan MD*; Ruiz-Contreras, Jesus MD†; Casado-Flores, Juan MD‡; Negreira, Sagrario MD†; Del Castillo, Fernando MD§; Hernández-Sampelayo, Teresa MD¶; Bueno, Mercedes MD∥; Calvo, Cristina MD**; Ríos, Esther MD*; Méndez, Cristina MD†† on Behalf of the HERACLES Study Group Author Information The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 30(6):p 471-474, June 2011. | DOI: 10.1097/INF.0b013e31820a418a Buy SDC

Metrics Abstract Background: In October 2006, the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was included in the Madrid vaccination calendar, warranting serotype (St) surveillances in pneumococcal pediatric parapneumonic empyema (PPE).

Methods: A prospective 2-year (May 2007–April 2009) laboratory-confirmed PPE surveillance was performed in 22 hospitals. All isolates (for serotyping) and culture-negative pleural fluids were sent to the reference laboratory for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis.

Results: We identified 138 PPEs. Pneumococcal etiology was confirmed in 100 cases: 38 by culture, 62 by PCR. Mean age was 44.64 ± 26.64 months; 51.0% were male. Similar pneumococcal PPE distribution was found by age: 21% to 28% in <24, ≥24–<36, ≥36–<60, and ≥60 months. PPE-associated Sts were St 1 (38%), St 5 (15%), St 19A (11%), St 7F (9%), St 3 (8%), and others (19%). St 1 was the most common in >36 months, with similar rates to St 19A in <24 months (≈30%). In ≥24–≤36 months, St 3 (21.7%), St 1 and St 5 (17.4% each) were the most frequent. No differences in demographic data, vaccination status, length of hospitalization, and outcome were found between culture-negative (PCR positive) and culture-positive PPE patients, with significantly higher percentages of St 1 and St 5 in culture-positive PPEs. Total rates of St 1 (38%), St 5 (15%), and St 7F (9%) would have been over-represented considering only positive-culture PPEs (n = 38), by increasing to 52.6% (St 1), 23.7% (St 5), and 10.5% (St 7F). The 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine would cover 84.0% of Sts causing PPEs.

Conclusions: PCR is essential for determining the specific etiology of PPE.