This is the first study showing the impact of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on pneumococcal meningitis in Latin America; a significant (63.5%) reduction in hospitalization was observed during the first 6 years after starting vaccination. A 90% reduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines 7/13 serotypes was observed (P < 0.0001). After vaccination, all strains were penicillin susceptible. Mortality had a reduction of 71%.
Background: Uruguay incorporated the conjugate vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae b (Hib) in 1994. In 2008, the vaccine was changed from one with natural conjugated capsular polysaccharide to one with a synthetic polysaccharide component. We describe the frequency and characteristics of invasive Hib infections in children hospitalized in a Pediatric Reference Hospital (PRH) between January 1st, 2000 and December 31st, 2017. Methods: Sterile site Hib isolations from hospitalized children were included. Clinical and microbiological characteristics were analyzed. Favorable conditions for the infection were considered: incomplete immunization, immunodeficiencies and associated pathologies. Two periods are described: 1, prior to vaccine change (1/1 st/ 2000-12/31/08) and 2, post-change (1/1 st/09-12/31st/17). Results: 45 children were hospitalized: 5 in the first period and 40 in the second. The hospitalization rate per 10,000 discharges was 0.41 (95% CI 0.05-0.77) and 4.2/10,000 (95% CI 2.89-5.48), respectively (p < 0.01). The diagnoses at discharge were: meningitis/ventriculitis (20), pneumonia (16), bacteremia (3), epiglottitis (1), arthritis (1), cellulitis (3) and obstruction of the upper airway (1). Four children presented comorbidities. Twenty seven received less than 3 doses of anti-Hib vaccination and 18 were properly vaccinated (2 were immunodeficient). The median hospitalization was 14 days, 18 children required intensive therapy. Conclusions: Observed change may be due to: incomplete primary series, inhomogeneous vaccine coverage and immunogenicity of the synthetic polysaccharide. To reduce this public health problem, epidemiological surveillance.
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