Appropriateness of a Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine in Brazil: Potential Impact of Age and Clinical Diagnosis, with Emphasis on Meningitis

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http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/JID/journal/issues/v187n8/21059/brief/21059.abstract.html

The Journal of Infectious Diseases    2003;187:1206-1212
© 2003 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved.
0022-1899/2003/18708-0005$15.00

 

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MAJOR ARTICLE

Appropriateness of a Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine in Brazil: Potential Impact of Age and Clinical Diagnosis, with Emphasis on Meningitis

Maria-Cristina C. Brandileone,1 Ana-Lucia S. Sgambatti de Andrade,2 José-Luis Di Fabio,3 Maria-Luiza L. S. Guerra,1 and Robert Austrian4

1Secao de Bacteriologia, Adolfo Lutz Institute, Secretary of Health for the State of São Paulo, São Paulo, and 2Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás, Goiás, Brazil; 3Division of Vaccines and Immunization, Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC; 4Department of Research Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, Philadelphia

 

Received 29 August 2002; accepted 10 December 2002; electronically published 26 March 2003.

The distribution of pneumococcal serotypes in Brazil was analyzed by age group and clinical diagnosis, using data obtained during 20 years of national surveillance. Serotypes 1 and 5 remained among the main serotypes in all age groups, increasing in frequency with age. Serotype 14 was prevalent among children, whereas serotypes 3 and 4 were most prevalent among the adult population. The potential impact of the 7- and 9-valent conjugate vaccines on children up to age 5 years with severe pneumococcal diseases was 58.2% and 73%, respectively; the highest coverage of the 7-valent vaccine for pneumonia was achieved for children aged 7 months to 2 years (70%), whereas, for meningitis, it was observed for children aged 7 months to 5 years (58.6%). The use of conjugate vaccine may be of potential benefit by reducing the childhood sequelae and mortality of pneumococcal infection in Brazil.

 


     Financial support: Brazilian Council for Science and Technology Development (grants 520580/00-1 and 520399/00-5); Pan American Health Organization; Canadian International Development Agency; Instituto Adolfo Lutz; Brazilian Ministry of Health.
     Informed consent was obtained from patients or guardians, and human experimentation guidelines of the Brazilian Ministry of Health were followed in the conduct of the clinical research.

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