BACKGROUND Since 2000, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) and WHO have supported the introduction of the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) in the immunization programs of developing countries. The highest pneumococcal nasopharyngeal carriage rates have been reported (40-60%) in these countries, and the highest incidence and case fatality rates of pneumococcal infections...

INTRODUCTION Diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae generate substantial morbidity and mortality. Despite official recommendations to vaccinate everyone over the age of 64, the estimated vaccination rate for this target population is around 2%. In Switzerland, pneumococcal vaccinations are for the most part provided by general practitioners (GPs); in addition, a small number of patients ge...

BACKGROUND Pneumococcal carriage is the precursor for development of pneumococcal disease, and is also responsible for transmission of the organism from person-to-person. In Africa, little is known about the pneumococcus in relation to people with HIV infection. The aim of the study was to investigate the epidemiology of pneumococcal carriage among HIV infected children visiting a tertiary hosp...

BACKGROUND In the current era of universal immunization of young children with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, it is unclear whether the high risk ratios for pneumococcal disease previously attributed to specified chronic conditions have persisted. In addition, further analysis of pneumococcal disease risk may clarify whether certain chronic conditions that currently are not specified as signif...

CONTEXT With routine childhood vaccination using heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, one concern has been the potential for emergence and expansion of replacement disease caused by serotypes not contained in the heptavalent conjugate vaccine. OBJECTIVE To determine whether replacement disease is associated with the overall decline in invasive pneumococcal disease among Alaska Native c...

BACKGROUND Pneumonia is the major cause of death in children globally, with more than 900,000 deaths annually in children under five years of age. Streptococcus pneumoniae causes most deaths, most often in the form of community acquired pneumonia. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) are currently being implemented in many low-income countries. PCVs decrease vaccine-type pneumococcal carriage...

polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine adults in more developed countries: the state of the evidence. Lancet Infect Dis 2003;3:71–8. 8 Alfageme I, Vazquez R, Reyes N, et al. Clinical efficacy of anti-pneumococcal vaccination in patients with COPD. Thorax 2006;61:189–95. 9 Lexau CA, Lynfield R, Danila R, et al. Changing epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal disease among older adults in the era of ...

OBJECTIVE To study the attitudes among general practitioners towards pneumococcal vaccination for middle-aged (50-64) and elderly population (over 65) in Hong Kong and the factors affecting their decision to advise pneumococcal vaccination for those age groups. DESIGN Cross-sectional study of general practitioners in private practice in Hong Kong. PARTICIPANTS Members of Hong Kong Medical A...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Many pediatric rheumatology patients are at increased risk of pneumococcal disease secondary to a deficient immune system and/or immunosuppressive medications. The goal of this study was to improve pneumococcal vaccination rates in this high-risk population. METHODS Eligible patients included children at least 2 years old and adults with systemic lupus erythematosus a...

OBJECTIVES To estimate the costs of pneumococcal disease in Brazil, Chile and Uruguay, to describe how these costs vary between different patient groups, and to discuss factors that affect these cost variations. METHODS The cost of pneumococcal disease was estimated from the health care perspective. For each country, baseline cost estimates were primarily developed using health resources info...