title: [Impact of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on the incidence of consolidated pneumonia in children younger than 5 years old in Pilar, Buenos Aires: A population-based study].
abstract: In January 2012, Argentina introduced the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) in its immunization schedule for children younger than 2 years old. Coverage in Pilar in 2012 reached>90% for the first two doses and 60% for the third dose.
  
  
  
  To measure the effectiveness of PCV13 to reduce the incidence of consolidated pneumonia (CP)in the two-year period following its introduction in the immunization schedule.
  
  
  
  Prospective, population-based study conducted in Pilar. All children younger than 5 year sold with clinical signs of pneumonia assisted at the reference hospitals (both inpatients and outpatients) in the first two years since the vaccine introduction (2012-2013) were included. The annual incidence of CP was compared to the 2003-2005 baseline period. Clinical and radiological assessments were done as per the World Health Organization's criteria.
  
  
  
  Six hundred and sixty-six patients with clinical suspicion of pneumonia were included. CP was diagnosed in 309 patients; 52.1% were girls, 70.2% were younger than 2 years old, and 56.4% had been immunized with the PCV13; 4.5% (14/309) had bacteriological confirmation (S. pneumoniae: 4; N. meningitidis: 4; S. aureus: 2; others: 4). A significant reduction in the incidence of CP (per 100 000 children younger than 5 years old) was observed between the pre- and postimmunization periods, from 750 (204/27209) to 561 (171/30 475) in 2012 and to 453 (138/30 475) in 2013; effectiveness accounted for 25.2% and 39.6%, respectively. Reduction in infants younger than 1 year old: 33.9% in 2012 and 44.6% in 2013; and in children aged 12-23 months old: 57.9% in 2013. No significant differences were observed in the incidence of CP at an older age.
  
  
  
  Following the introduction of PCV13 in Argentina's immunization schedule, a fast and significant reduction in the incidence of CP was observed, mainly in infants younger than 1 year old in 2012 and in children younger than 2 years old in 2013.
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires.
authors.forename: Ángela
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bakir
authors.affiliation: Hospital Pediátrico Federico Falcón, Pilar.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bialorus
authors.affiliation: Hospital Juan Sanguinetti, Pilar.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.affiliation: Hospital Pediátrico Federico Falcón, Pilar.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mirra
authors.affiliation: Hospital Pediátrico Federico Falcón, Pilar.
authors.forename: Celina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santander
authors.affiliation: Hospital Pediátrico Federico Falcón, Pilar.
authors.forename: Mabel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Terluk
authors.affiliation: Hospital Pediátrico Federico Falcón, Pilar.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zurdo
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.affiliation: Hospital Pediátrico Federico Falcón, Pilar.
authors.forename: María I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Fermndez
mesh_terms: D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: C538862:13-valent pneumococcal vaccine; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines