Pneumococcal infections in oncohematological patients after the introduction of conjugate vaccine

Abstract

Objectives: To know the symptoms and predominant serotypes of pneumococcal infection in patients with oncohematological illness after introduction of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

Patients and methods: A prospective study (january 2006-may 2011) was made of all the incident cases of infection in oncohematological patients over 17 years of age in whom Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated.

Results: A total of 131 episodes of incident cases of pneumococcal infection in 122 patients (median age of 67 years) were detected. Of these, 50% were related to health/nosocomial care (P<.001), 39.7% pneumonias and 45.1% lower respiratory tract infections, without radiological condensation. In comparison to the 803 incident cases of pneumococcal infection during the same period as in patients without oncohematological disease, the oncohematological patients were more frequently males (P<.001), had pneumonia episodes with higher FINE scores (P<.001), lower risk of death non-directly associated with pneumococcal infection (P=.006) and showed reduced susceptibility to levofloxacin (P=.043). Non-vaccine serotypes predominated.

Conclusions: Pneumococcal infections in oncohematological patients are more frequent in males, mainly with lung neoplasms. They are heath care related, but not related to chemotherapy or neutropenia. After the introduction of heptavalent conjugate vaccines in pediatrics, the non-vaccine serotypes predominate.