Pneumococcal Meningitis in the Post–Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Era

The introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) has led to a significant reduction in invasive pneumococcal disease (JW Pediatr Adolesc Med Jun 26 2013). Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in young children, and survivors frequently suffer long-term sequelae. Use of PCV7 also has shifted the serotypes causing infection. To examine whether outcomes have changed in the postvaccine era, investigators reviewed all 68 cases of pneumococcal meningitis at a single children's hospital during the 4 years before (22 cases) and 10 years after (46 cases) introduction of PCV7.

Overall incidence of pneumococcal meningitis decreased 26% after vaccine introduction (72% reduction in disease caused by vaccine se…