title: Childhood invasive pneumococcal disease in Germany between 1997 and 2003: variability in incidence and serotype distribution in absence of general pneumococcal conjugate vaccination.
abstract: Based on active prospective surveillance, we report the incidence and serotype distribution for invasive pneumococcal disease in German children between 1997 and 2003. While incidence of meningitis cases was stable over time, there was an increase in non-meningitis cases. In absence of a general pneumococcal conjugate vaccination program, there were considerable and significant changes in serotype distribution over time. These should be considered when discussing the effect of vaccination programs and related changes in serotype distribution.
authors.affiliation: University of Munich, Institute of Social Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, Germany. simon.rueckinger@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rückinger
authors.forename: Rüdiger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: von Kries
authors.forename: Ralf René
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Reinert
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van der Linden
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siedler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D012703:Serotyping; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014611:Vaccination; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate