Serotype distribution and vaccine coverage among adults with pneumococcal disease in Germany

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of pneumonia, otitis media, sepsis and meningitis in young children and the elderly. Vaccination with a 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for all infants under 2 years has been generally recommended by the German health authorities since July 2006. As a result, invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) caused by vaccine serotypes has decreased markedly among children, but also in adults due to herd immunity. Serotype distribution in adults and infants may differ substantially and may also depend on type of infection and underlying disease. The NRCS has monitored the ep…