title: Paediatric pneumococcal disease in Central Europe.
abstract: Streptococcus pneumoniae causes considerable global paediatric morbidity and mortality, despite the availability of safe and effective pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs). To justify the introduction of PCVs, accurate information on the burden of disease is required. Here, we present an appraisal of the pneumococcal epidemiological situation in 11 Central European countries. The data are based on study findings presented at the 12th Central European Vaccine Advisory Group (CEVAG) meeting, held on 21-22 May 2010 in Sofia, Bulgaria, and a literature review of the PubMed database using the search terms 'pneumococcal' or 'Streptococcus pneumoniae', in combination with 'otitis media', 'pneumonia', 'meningitis' or 'bacteraemia/sepsis', and '[Central European country name]'. The incidence of pneumococcal disease appears to be lower in Central Europe than previously reported for Europe as a whole, with the highest risk in infants aged 0-2 years. The fatality rates in the under fives from invasive infections are up to 40%. A paucity of comprehensive country-specific data on pneumococcal disease burden arises from the lack of homogenous surveillance programmes. Standardised, active surveillance systems are required for the accurate evaluation of the pneumococcal disease burden in the region. Only then can the need for vaccination be addressed.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Military Health Sciences, University of Defence, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. prymula@fnhk.cz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prymula
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chlibek
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ivaskeviciene
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mangarov
authors.forename: Zs
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mészner
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perenovska
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Salman
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Simurka
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tamm
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tešović
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Urbancikova
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Usonis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011018:Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018805:Sepsis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012703:Serotyping; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate