Community acquired Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in Thailand

ABSTRACT

Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is the major pathogen that causes health problems worldwide. Invasive disease includes meningitis, bacteremia with or without focus and pneumonia. It causes morbidity and mortality, especially in children. In Thailand, no relevant study was done to estimate the exact incidence of invasive pneumococcal diseases. Serotypes, in children with invasive diseases, differ slightly by age; less than five years old serotype 23F, 6B, 14, 9V, and 19F, more than five years old serotype 4, 23F, 19F, and 9V, while the most frequent serotypes in nasopharyngeal specimens are serotype 6B, 19F, 23F, and 14. The prevalence and the level of drug resistance of S. pneumoniae (DRSP) have been increasing. A significant risk factor for S. pneumonia infections is previous antibiotic use within three months. Seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine can prevent 73.9% of the most common pneumococcal serotypes in children younger than five years of age. There is a need for cost-effectiveness studies for inclusion of this vaccine in the national children immunization programme.