Age-Specific Resurgence in Invasive Pneumococcal Disease Incidence in the COVID-19 Pandemic Era and Its Association With Respiratory Virus and Pneumococcal Carriage Dynamics: A Time-Series Analysis

Clin Infect Dis. 2024 Apr 10;78(4):855-859. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciad746.

Abstract

Using multiple national surveillance systems, we found an increase in the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease during after the relaxation of non-pharmaceutical interventions against COVID-19, which strongly varied by age. Age groups with higher incidence of respiratory syncytial virus and influenza also experienced higher increase in invasive pneumococcal disease incidence, with no change in pneumococcal carriage.

Keywords: influenza; invasive pneumococcal disease; nonpharmaceutical interventions; pneumococcus–respiratory virus connection; respiratory syncytial virus.

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infant
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumococcal Infections* / epidemiology
  • Pneumococcal Infections* / prevention & control
  • Pneumococcal Vaccines
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human*
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae

Substances

  • Pneumococcal Vaccines