Paediatric pneumococcal disease in Central Europe

ECDC comment

7 July 2011

The authors present an appraisal of the pneumococcal epidemiological situation in 11 Central European countries. Data are based on study findings presented at the 12th Central European Vaccine Advisory Group (CEVAG) meeting, held on 21–22 May 2010 in Sofia, Bulgaria, and a literature review of the PubMed database.

Prymula R, Chlibek R, Ivaskeviciene I, Mangarov A, Mészner Zs, Perenovska P et al. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. Online First™, 11 June 2011.

The incidence of pneumococcal disease appears to be lower in Central Europe than previously reported for Europe as a whole, with the highest risk in infants aged 0–2 years. The fatality rates from invasive infections in the under five are up to 40%. A paucity of comprehensive country-specific data on pneumococcal disease burden arises from the lack of homogenous surveillance programmes. Standardised, active surveillance systems are required for the accurate evaluation of the pneumococcal disease burden in the region. Only then can the need for vaccination be addressed.