PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Mohamed A. Elemraid
AU  - Andrew D. Sails
AU  - Gary J.A. Eltringham
AU  - John D. Perry
AU  - Stephen P. Rushton
AU  - David A. Spencer
AU  - Matthew F. Thomas
AU  - Katherine M. Eastham
AU  - Fiona Hampton
AU  - Andrew R. Gennery
AU  - Julia E. Clark
TI  - Aetiology of paediatric pneumonia after the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.00199112
DP  - 2013 Dec 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 1595--1603
VI  - 42
IP  - 6
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/6/1595.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/6/1595.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2013 Dec 01; 42
AB  - We describe the aetiology of community-acquired pneumonia in children before and after the introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccination (PCV) programme in 2006.Prospective studies were conducted in 2001–2002 (pre-vaccine) and 2009–2011 (post-vaccine) of children aged 0–16 years with radiologically confirmed pneumonia seen in hospital. Investigations included culture, serology, immunofluorescence antibody and urine antigen testing, with an increased use of PCR assays and expanded panels of pathogens in the post-vaccine study.241 and 160 children were enrolled in the pre- and post-vaccine studies, respectively (73% aged <5 years). Identification of a causative pathogen was higher post-vaccination (61%) than pre-vaccination (48.5%) (p=0.019). Rates of bacterial infections were not different between post- and pre-vaccine studies (17.5% versus 24%, p=0.258). Viral (31%) and mixed (12.5%) infections were found more often post-vaccination (19.5%, p=0.021) than pre-vaccination (5%, p=0.015). Rates of identified pneumococcal infections were comparable between pre- and post-vaccine studies (14.7% versus 17.4%, p=0.557). Diagnosis of pneumococcal infection post-vaccination improved when PCR was used compared to culture (21.6% versus 6%, p=0.0004). Serotypes included in PCV13 but not PCV7 were identified in 75% (18 out of 24) post-vaccination.Infection with nonvaccine pneumococcal serotypes continues to be a significant cause of pneumonia in children in the UK.Aetiology of community-acquired pneumonia in children following a pneumococcal conjugate vaccination programme http://ow.ly/p9Wub