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Clinical and microbiological characteristics of pediatric patients hospitalized for pneumococcal pneumonia before and after the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines

Gomez CA, Gonzales BE, Hernández RA, Campos F, Chaparro E, Del Águila O, Castillo ME, Saenz A et al.

Revista peruana de medicina experimental y salud publica, 2025

128 participants · 2 citations

Abstract

The clinical and microbiological characteristics of pneumococcal pneumonia in children hospitalized in Lima were analyzed, before and after the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV). We reviewed cases that occurred between 2006-2019, in the pre-PCV7 (2006-2008), post-PCV7 (2009-2011) and post-PCV13 (2016-2019) periods. Of 128 patients with positive cultures (92 blood and 36 pleural fluid), most were infants in the pre-PCV7 (77.1%) and post-PCV7 (43.3%) studies, while in the post-PCV13 study they were mostly preschoolers (62%). We found an increase in complicated pneumonia cases from 14.6% to 72% and an increase in serotype 19A (6.3% to 68%). The most frequent sequence type was ST320 (31 isolates). Resistance to penicillin and ceftriaxone was low (6% and 2%, respectively), although higher in empyema (21.4% and 14.3%, respectively). Resistance to azithromycin increased from 27% to 92%. Penicillin remains the antibiotic of choice for the treatment of uncomplicated pneumococcal pneumonia in Lima. Motivation for the study. Although studies on invasive pneumococcal disease have been conducted in Lima, the characteristics of pneumococcal pneumonia before and after the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines are unknown. Main findings. We found an increase in complicated pneumococcal pneumonia cases, particularly empyema and an increase in serotype 19A. Resistance to penicillin and ceftriaxone was found to be low; however, in cases of empyema, antibiotic…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 128 participants or records.

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