The impact of COVID-19 pandemic control on vaccine-preventable invasive bacterial diseases in Piedmont (Italy)

Infection. 2022 Jun;50(3):767-770. doi: 10.1007/s15010-022-01770-6. Epub 2022 Feb 16.

Abstract

Purpose: The impact of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on other pathogens is largely unknown. We aimed to compare the prevalence of vaccine-preventable invasive bacterial infections before and during the pandemic in Piedmont (Italy).

Methods: We defined the monthly incidence of S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae and N. meningitides-invasive diseases from January 2010 to June 2021. Then, we compared the mean monthly cases during the previous 5 years (2015-2019) and the monthly cases in 2020 or 2021.

Results: We found significant reductions for invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPDs) in adults and H. influenzae-invasive diseases in 2020 and 2021 in comparison to the previous years, but not for invasive meningococcal diseases and IPDs in children.

Conclusions: Further data are needed to confirm these findings and define possible post-pandemic evolutions in the epidemiology of vaccine-preventable invasive bacterial diseases.

Keywords: Bacterial-invasive infections; COVID-19 pandemic; Social distancing; Vaccine-preventable diseases.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bacteria
  • Bacterial Infections* / epidemiology
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Child
  • Haemophilus influenzae
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infant
  • Pandemics / prevention & control
  • Pneumococcal Infections* / epidemiology
  • Pneumococcal Infections* / prevention & control
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae
  • Vaccines*

Substances

  • Vaccines