title: Invasive infections caused by Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae among children in St Petersburg, Russia.
abstract: This study investigated the causes of invasive bacterial infections in children aged <15 years in St Petersburg, Russia, during 2001-2003, using culture and antigen detection methods (rapid antigen latex agglutination (RAL)) for normally sterile body fluids. A pathogen was detected in 90 cases (culture 50, RAL 40). Neisseria meningitidis was the most common pathogen (66%), followed by Haemophilus influenzae (19%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (16%). Meningitis was the main clinical diagnosis (68/90, 76%), with N. meningitidis serogroup B, H. influenzae type b (Hib), and S. pneumoniae serogroup 1 being the most common isolates. Hib was less prevalent in St Petersburg than it was in industrialised countries before the introduction of Hib vaccinations.
authors.affiliation: National Public Health Institute, Department of Child and Adolescent Health, Oulu, Finland. tarja.kaijalainen@ktl.fi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaijalainen
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kharit
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Kvetnaya
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sirkiä
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Herva
authors.forename: O V
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Parkov
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nohynek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012426:Russia / Q000453:epidemiology; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification