Effect of heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccination on invasive pneumococcal disease in preterm born infants

We report data from active prospective surveillance of IPD in children in Germany. The cohorts of preterm born children in 2000 and 2007 and the respective whole birth cohorts are compared regarding occurrence of IPD.After introduction of PCV7 we observed a reduction in the rate of IPD in preterm born infants comparing the 2000 and 2007 birth cohort. The rate of IPD among the whole birth cohorts was reduced from 15.0 to 8.5 notifications per 100,000 (P < .001). The impact among the preterm birth cohort was comparable: A reduction in notification rate from 26.1 to 16.7 per 100,000 comparing the 2000 with the 2007 preterm birth cohort (P = .39). Preterm born infants with IPD were either unvaccinated or vaccinated delayed or incomplete.This adds to evidence that PCV7 also protects preterm born infants effectively from IPD. Preterm born infants should receive pneumococcal vaccination according to their chronological age.Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major source of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It is estimated that S. pneumoniae causes around 11% of all deaths in children aged 1-59 months [1]. Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in children is associated with considerable case-fatality rates and rates of sequelae, even in industrialized countries [2-6]. In February 2000, a 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) was licensed in the US. This vaccine offers the possibility for a general vaccination program in infants and toddlers. Starting from 2001, a strong decrease of IPD incidence in children has been reported from the US [7-11]. Several European countries have shown decreases in the incidence of IPD after introduction of PCV7 [12] including Germany [13].Preterm born infants are at higher risk for infectious diseases like invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), with the highest risk in early infancy [14]. Vaccination of preterm born infants is often performed delayed [15]. Efficacy of heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccination (PCV7) to protect infants yo