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BackgroundInvasive bacterial disease (IBD; including pneumonia, meningitis, sepsis) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children in low-income countries.MethodsWe analyzed data from a surveillance study of suspected community-acquired IBD in children <15 years of age in Kathmandu, Nepal, from 2005 to 2013 before introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV). We detailed the serotype-specific distribution of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and incorporated antigen and PCR testing of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from children with meningitis.ResultsEnhanced surveillance of IBD was undertaken during 2005-2006 and 2010-2013. During enhanced surveillance, a total of 7956 children were recruited of whom 7754 had blood or CSF culture results available for analysis, and 342 (4%) had a pathogen isolated. From 2007 to 2009, all 376 positive culture results were available, with 259 pathogens isolated (and 117 contaminants). Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi was the most prevalent pathogen isolated (167 cases, 28% of pathogens), followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae (98 cases, 16% pathogens). Approximately, 73% and 78% of pneumococcal serotypes were contained in 10-valent and 13-valent PCV, respectively. Most cases of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) were among children ≥5 years of age from 2008 onward. Antigen and PCR testing of CSF for pneumococci, Haemophilus influenzae type b and meningococci increased the number of these pathogens identified from 33 (culture) to 68 (culture/antigen/PCR testing).ConclusionsS. enterica serovar Typhi and S. pneumoniae accounted for 44% of pathogens isolated. Most pneumococcal isolates were of serotypes contained in PCVs. Antigen and PCR testing of CSF improves sensitivity for IBD pathogens.

Original publication

DOI

10.1097/inf.0000000000003421

Type

Journal article

Journal

The Pediatric infectious disease journal

Publication Date

21/12/2021

Addresses

From the Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course Sciences, King's College London, United Kingdom Department of Paediatrics, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Lalitpur, Kathmandu, Nepal Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford and Oxford National Institute of Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom Department of Microbiology, Patan Hospital, Lalitpur, Kathmandu, Nepal Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland International Vaccine Access Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland School of Women's and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia WHO Country Office, Lalitpur, Kathmandu, Nepal Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.