title: Reduction in pediatric rotavirus-related hospitalizations after universal rotavirus vaccination in Belgium.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study investigated the effect of pediatric vaccination against rotavirus on the number of rotavirus-related hospitalizations of children in Belgium.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective database study was conducted at 12 pediatric hospitals in Belgium (546 pediatric beds, 30.6% of Belgian total). Children ≤ 5 years attending hospital for any reason were eligible if they had a rotavirus stool test at one of the study centers. The number of rotavirus-positive stool tests and hospitalizations for acute gastroenteritis (AGE) were compared for prevaccination (June 2004-May 2006) and postvaccination (June 2007-May 2009) study periods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of rotavirus-positive stool tests in children who were ≤ 5 years of age decreased from an average of 881 in the prevaccination period to 368 in the first year postvaccination period and 199 in the second. In children 2 to 24 months of age, the percentage reductions were 65% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 62%, 69%) and 80% (95% CI: 77%, 83%) in the first and second years after vaccination, respectively, compared with prevaccination. In children <2 months, the reductions were 50% (95% CI: 36%, 64%) and 64% (95% CI: 49%, 76%), respectively, and in children >24 months the corresponding values were 20% (95% CI: 14%, 28%) and 64% (95% CI: 56%, 72%). The number of AGE-driven hospital admissions and hospitalization days for AGE declined by 33% and 36%, respectively, from prevaccination to the second year postvaccination in children ≤ 2 years of age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pediatric rotavirus vaccination in Belgium significantly reduced rotavirus-related hospitalizations in the first and second years after introduction.
authors: Paediatric Department, Virga Jesse Ziekenhuis, Stadsomvaart 11, Hasselt, Belgium. marc.raes@virgajesse.be
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Raes
authors: Danielle
authors: D
authors: Strens
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Vergison
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Verghote
authors: Baudouin
authors: B
authors: Standaert
mesh_terms: D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines